Scholarlink

<p>This scientific note reports the observation of an interaction between the oil-collecting bee <i>Centris longimana</i> and the black caiman <i>Melanosuchus niger</i> in the Brazilian Amazon, in which the bee was seen feeding on the caiman’s eye secretions. The bee hovered in front of the caiman’s eye, touching it with its flabellum to extract the fluids. This behavior appeared to cause discomfort to <i>M. niger</i>, which repeatedly closed its eyes and occasionally submerged its head in an attempt to drive the bee away. Detecting interactions such as this is important, as they may reflect evolutionary relationships between species, suggesting that bees could use eye secretions from crocodilians to fulfill specific ecological or physiological functions.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

First record of the bee Centris longimana (Apidae) lapping eye secretions from black caiman Melanosuchus niger (Reptilia: Alligatoridae) in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月17日

查看全文
  • Diego Matheus de Mello Mendes,
  • David Silva Nogueira,
  • Felipe Vivallo,
  • Rafael Sobral,
  • Alberto Moreira da Silva Neto

摘要

This scientific note reports the observation of an interaction between the oil-collecting bee Centris longimana and the black caiman Melanosuchus niger in the Brazilian Amazon, in which the bee was seen feeding on the caiman’s eye secretions. The bee hovered in front of the caiman’s eye, touching it with its flabellum to extract the fluids. This behavior appeared to cause discomfort to M. niger, which repeatedly closed its eyes and occasionally submerged its head in an attempt to drive the bee away. Detecting interactions such as this is important, as they may reflect evolutionary relationships between species, suggesting that bees could use eye secretions from crocodilians to fulfill specific ecological or physiological functions.