New observations of frog and lizard predation by wandering and orb-weaver spiders in Costa Rica

Abstract

New observations of frog and lizard predation by wandering and orb-weaver spiders in Costa Rica. Studies have suggested that predation by spiders may be an important force regulating life history in neotropical frogs and lizards, but detailed descriptions of predatorprey relationships are few. Here we describe novel observations where spiders contributed to the mortality of frogs and lizards in northeastern Costa Rica, and we corrected or observed predators were wandering spiders (Ctenidae), which seem to be generalist predators on frogs and lizards. An orb-weaver spider (Araneidae) also contributed to frog are needed to elucidate the role that spider predation contributes to frog and lizard demography in neotropical forests.Keywords: Anura, Araneidae, Ctenidae, La Selva Biological Station, Neotropics, predators, prey, Squamata, Tirimbina Biological Reserve. ResumoCosta Rica. Estudos sugeriram que a predação por aranhas pode ser uma força importante na regulação da historia de vida de anuros e largartos Neotropicais, mas descrições detalhadas das relações predador-presa são escassas. Decrevemos aqui novas observações em que aranhas contribuem para a mortalidade de anuros e lagartos no nordeste da Costa Rica e corrigimos ou observados foram aranhas-andarilhas (Ctenidae), que parecem ser predadoras generalistas de anuros necessários para elucidar o papel que a predação por aranhas exerce sobre a demografía de anuros e

Predation of anurans by spiders: four cases in Mexican tropical forests

“…The observations reported here supplement the various observations of spiders of the genera Ctenus and Cupiennius consuming anurans in the neotropics (Menin et al 2005, Toledo 2005, Ervin et al 2007, Barbo et al 2009, Cicchi et al 2010, De-Carvalho et al 2010, Gibbons et al 2010, Vázquez-Cisneros 2011, Amaral et al 2015, Ríos-Rodas et al 2016, De Mira-Mendes et al 2017, Folt and Lapinski 2017, Vázquez-Cruz et al 2017, Abarca et al 2018, Salas et al 2019 and suggest that these spider genera are among the most important predators on postmetamorphic anurans in this region. Further, the observations contribute to the knowledge of the multitrophic interactions of species and their relevance in the functioning of the ecosystem.…”

Lizard predation by spiders: A review from the Neotropical and Andean regions

“…The scarcity of organized information for lizards is particularly striking when considering regions having a high diversity of lizard and spider species, such as the Neotropics (Pianka & Vitt, 2003; Santos et al., 2017). Although instances of consumption of lizards by spiders have been reported for this region (e.g.,Clark & Gillingham, 1990; Folt & Lapinski, 2017; Gomides et al., 2010; von May et al., 2019), the information has not been systematized, which hinders a comprehensive assessment of the significance of spider–lizard predator–prey interactions. In the current study, we compiled all the available information in the literature on predation events involving these two taxa, to organize the occurrence of spider consuming lizard reports in the Neotropical region.…”

Spider traps amphibian in northeastern Madagascar

“…Most reports have documented spiders to catch their prey by active hunting (Kirchmeyer et al., 2017; Maffei et al., 2010) or by using orb webs to catch flying or jumping vertebrates such as bats, birds, and amphibians in midair (Folt & Lapinski, 2017; Kirchmeyer et al., 2017; Muscat et al., 2014; Nyffeler & Kno, 2013; Toledo, 2005).…”

“…The review also reveals that spiders are among those invertebrate predators which have been reported to prey on vertebrates and different types of prey by spider have been listed in several papers such Jackson (1987); Pekár et al (2012); Michalko and Pekár (2016). Among those vertebrate, preying by spider are mammals (von May et al, 2019), reptiles (Folt & Lapinski, 2017;von May et al, 2019;Shine & Tamayo, 2016), and amphibians (Amaral et al, 2015;Costapereira et al, 2010;Folly et al, 2017;Gaiarsa et al, 2012;Glos, 2003;Kirchmeyer et al, 2017;von May et al, 2019;Menin et al, 2005;Pedrozo et al, 2017). Generally, amphibians seem to be the most common vertebrate prey of spiders (Valdez, 2020), probably due to their soft skin (Valdez, 2020), but also due to their small to moderate size (Duellman & Trueb, 1986).…”