TOADS BUFO SPP IN THE DIETS OF MUSTELID PREDATORS IN BYELARUS

Amphibians were important prey to the European mink Mustela lutreola, the American mink M. vison, polecat M. putorius, river otter Lutra lut ra, and badger Meles meles, and formed a minor component of the food t aken by stoat Mustela erminea, weasel M. nivalis, and pine marten Mart es martes. Mink and otter strongly selected for frogs Rana spp, and av oided toads Bufo spp. However, the common toad can be an important pre y for semiaquatic mustelids under unfavourable feeding conditions. Toa ds (mainly Bufo bufo, and rarely B. viridis) also occurred in signific ant numbers in the diets of polecats and,badgers, which seemed, to pre y on frogs-and toads with no clear selection.