UTILIZATION OF PUYA-DASYLIRIOIDES (BROMEL IACEAE, PITCAIRNOIDEA) AS FORAGING SITE BY BOLITAGLOSSA-SUBPALMATA (PLETHODONTIDAE, BOLITOGLOSSINII)

Foraging activities of Bolitoglossa subpalmata (Plethodontidae: Bolito glossini) on Puya dasylirioides (Bromeliaceae: Pitcairnoidea) were stu died at a pear bog on Cerro de la Muerte, Costa Rica. Salamanders clim b bromeliad infructescences more often than other substrates, and seve ral times during a single night, if weather conditions are favorable. Strong winds with high precipitation inhibited their surface activity. The animals showed a tendency to climb Puya with an intermediate degr ee of senescence where they actively prey on resident arthropods. Comp arisons between number of ingested prey at the bromeliad against ether substrates, suggest a better availability or a large number of prey a t the infructescences. There was a low frequency of two or more salama nders climbing the same Puya. Sheltered microhabitats at the Puya and specific postures of the salamanders while foraging on the infructesce nces, enable long periods at the Puya without losing much water due to wind.