Observation of predation of the giant fishing spider Ancylometes rufus (Walckenaer, 1837) (Araneae, Ctenidae) on Dendropsophus melanargyreus Cope, 1877 (Anura, Hylidae)

Abstract

Abstract:We report here an observation of predation of the giant spider Ancylometes rufus on the tree frog Dendropsophus melanargyreus in a southern region of Amazonia Forest. We also reviewed the available literature on predation of this spider species on vertebrates.

Predation of the frog Elachistocleis panamensis by the spider Ancylometes bogotensis: first record

“…The observed behavior of nocturnal predation on leaves near bodies of water and the use of chelicerae and pedipalps to hold prey coincide with the published literature on the subject for A. bogotensis, the genus Ancylometes and other members of Ctenidae (Menin et al, 2005;Barej et al, 2009;Santana et al, 2009;Maffei et al, 2010;Moura & Azevedo, 2011;Bhukal et al, 2015;Foerster et al, 2017;Pinto & Costa-Campos et al, 2017).…”

“…Small toads are potential prey and constitute an important component in the diet of many predators (Diesel et al, 2014;Rocha et al, 2014); some arthropods as chilopods, crustaceans, insects and arachnids are known to prey upon them with distinct foraging methods (Menin et al, 2005;Barej et al, 2009;Maffei et al, 2010;Moura & Azevedo, 2011;Diesel et al, 2014;Pinto & Costa-Campos et al, 2017).…”

“…Nonetheless, the impact of predation on amphibian populations remains unknown (Barej et al, 2009) because most instances of spider attacks on amphibians are based on fortuitous observations of single events (Menin et al, 2005;dos Santos, 2009). Toledo (2005) found 68 reports of anurans as prey of invertebrates, from which approximately 48 % presented spiders as predators, especially of the families Pisauridae and Ctenidae (Moura & Azevedo, 2011). Ctenidae (Araneae) is composed by large nocturnal hunters (Barej et al, 2009) that abound in neotropical forests (Bhukal et al, 2015).…”

Predation on Tropidurus hispidus (Squamata: Tropiduridae) by Lasiodora klugi (Aranea: Theraphosidae) in the semiarid caatinga region of northeastern Brazil

“…Numerous researchers have reported predation events involving spiders and herpetofauna in Neotropical regions (e.g. Raven 1990, Prado & Borgo 2003, Menin et al 2005, Pombal Junior 2007, Barbo et al 2009, Maffei et al 2010, Bocchiglieri & Mendonça 2010, Maffei et al 2010, Sousa & Freire 2010a, Moura & Azevedo 2011, Diniz 2011.…”

<htm>Um caso de predação de <i>Ancylometes rufus </i>(Walckenaer, 1837) (Araneae, Ctenidae) por <i>Tityus strandi </i> (Werner, 1939) (Scorpiones, Buthidae) no sul da Amazônia</htm>

“…The Ancylometes rufus (Walckenaer, 1837) (Araneae, Ctenidae) is a species which is widely distributed in the Amazon (HÖFER & BRESCOVIT, 2000;BRESCOVIT ET AL., 2002), in the coastal regions of the Atlantic Forest (HÖFER & METZNER, 2015) and in enclaves of the Cerrado forests (CARVALHO & AVELINO, 2010). It is a terrestrial species, often found near aquatic environments probably due to increased food supply of both invertebrates and small amphibians, reptiles and fish (MOURA & AZEVEDO, 2011;NYFFELER & PUSEY, 2014).…”