Notes on the feeding habits of a wandering spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Arachnida: Ctenidae)

Valenzuela‐Rojas, Juan Carlos; González‐Gómez, Julio César; Guevara, Giovany; Pérez, Lida Marcela Franco; Reinoso-Flórez, Gladys; García, Luis Fernando

doi:10.1636/0161-8202-48.1.43

Cited by 11 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Phoneutria boliviensis accepted and was able to overcome animals with different morphologies, such as spiders, cockroaches, and geckos, suggesting this species is likely an euryphagous species [32]. These results thus confirm ability to exploit small reptiles as has been previously reported for this genus from the field [30]. Rejection of frogs was an unexpected result since anurans are readily consumed by Phoneutria spiders [20,33].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…However, comparison should be carefully interpreted as mice have not been used here and these are not natural prey for P. boliviensis . [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prey species were selected based on 1) their sympatry and abundance at the same site as P. boliviensis and 2) evidence of the consumption of closely related prey species by other Phoneutria or related ctenid spiders. As vertebrate prey, we selected the gecko Hemidactylus frenatus Duméril & Bibron, 1836 (mass (mean ± SE): 0.29 ± 0.01 g, size (mean ± SE): 47.57 ± 1.25)) and the frog E. pustulosus (mass: 1.26 ± 0.37 g, size: 24.27 ± 0.54), which were reported to be preyed upon by Phoneutria spiders [30] and other ctenid spiders [52], respectively. As arthropod prey, we used the spider Spinoctenus sp.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although toxicity to insects has been suggested to be a mechanism for prey capture [29], ecological and evolutionary causes for high toxicity in vertebrates have been poorly explored. Recent records in the diet of Phoneutria boliviensis , suggest these spiders prey on several arthropod species but also consume vertebrates, mainly reptiles and anurans [30]. In addition, mammals and birds have occasionally been reported as prey in other Phoneutria spiders [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prey and Venom Efficacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae)

Valenzuela‐Rojas

González‐Gómez

Meijden

et al. 2019

Toxins

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Spiders rely on venom to catch prey and few species are even capable of capturing vertebrates. The majority of spiders are generalist predators, possessing complex venom, in which different toxins seem to target different types of prey. In this study, we focused on the trophic ecology and venom toxicity of Phoneutria boliviensis F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897, a Central American spider of medical importance. We tested the hypothesis that its venom is adapted to catch vertebrate prey by studying its trophic ecology and venom toxicity against selected vertebrate and invertebrate prey. We compared both trophic ecology (based on acceptance experiments) and toxicity (based on bioassays) among sexes of this species. We found that P. boliviensis accepted geckos, spiders, and cockroaches as prey, but rejected frogs. There was no difference in acceptance between males and females. The venom of P. boliviensis was far more efficient against vertebrate (geckos) than invertebrate (spiders) prey in both immobilization time and LD50. Surprisingly, venom of males was more efficient than that of females. Our results suggest that P. boliviensis has adapted its venom to catch vertebrates, which may explain its toxicity to humans.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

“…However, comparison should be carefully interpreted as mice have not been used here and these are not natural prey for P. boliviensis . [30].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Prey and Venom Efficacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae)

Valenzuela‐Rojas

González‐Gómez

Meijden

et al. 2019

Toxins

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“…Sexual maturity occurs after 14-17 molts, and spiders mature 300-465 days after emerging from the egg sac (Hazzi 2014). Valenzuela-Rojas et al (2020) reported that P. depilata is an euryphagous predator with a broad diet made up predominantly of arthropods and to a lesser extent of small vertebrates (Gekkonidae, Hylidae, and Sphaerodactylidae). There are human bite records of this species reported in Costa Rica and in banana plantations in Colombia (Flórez et al 2003).…”

Section: Comments In Their Revision Of Phoneutriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological and molecular evidence support the taxonomic separation of the medically important Neotropical spiders Phoneutria depilata (Strand, 1909) and P. boliviensis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) (Araneae, Ctenidae)

Hazzi¹,

Hormiga²

2021

1,971

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The species of the genus Phoneutria (Ctenidae), also called banana spiders, are considered amongst the most venomous spiders in the world. In this study we revalidate P. depilata (Strand, 1909), which had been synonymized with P. boliviensisis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897), using morphological and nucleotide sequence data (COI and ITS-2) together with species delimitation methods. We synonymized Ctenus peregrinoides, Strand, 1910 and Phoneutria colombiana Schmidt, 1956 with P. depilata. Furthermore, we designated Ctenus signativenter Strand, 1910 as a nomen dubium because the exact identity of this species cannot be ascertained with immature specimens, but we note that the type locality suggests that the C. signativenter syntypes belong to P. depilata. We also provide species distribution models for both species of Phoneutria and test hypotheses of niche conservatism under an allopatric speciation model. Our phylogenetic analyses support the monophyly of the genus Phoneutria and recover P. boliviensis and P. depilata as sister species, although with low nodal support. In addition, the tree-based species delimitation methods also supported the separate identities of these two species. Phoneutria boliviensis and P. depilata present allopatric distributions separated by the Andean mountain system. Species distribution models indicate lowland tropical rain forest ecosystems as the most suitable habitat for these two Phoneutria species. In addition, we demonstrate the value of citizen science platforms like iNaturalist in improving species distribution knowledge based on occurrence records. Phoneutria depilata and P. boliviensis present niche conservatism following the expected neutral model of allopatric speciation. The compiled occurrence records and distribution maps for these two species, together with the morphological diagnosis of both species, will help to identify risk areas of accidental bites and assist health professionals to determine the identity of the species involved in bites, especially for P. depilata.

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

Reyes-Olivares

Guajardo-Santibáñez²,

Segura³

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Vertebrate predation by invertebrates has been classically underexplored and thus underestimated, despite the fact that many arthropods consume vertebrates. To shed some light on the relevance that spider predation may have upon lizards in the Neotropical and Andean regions, we compiled the available information in the literature on this trophic interaction. We found 50 reports of spiders consuming lizards in these regions, and the 88% of these were from the Neotropical region. Spiders belong to eight families, but Ctenidae and Theraphosidae were the most frequently reported predators. Lizards belong to 12 families, and the most commonly consumed species corresponded to the families Dactyloidae (all Anolis lizards), Gymnophthalmidae, and Sphaerodactylidae. Data suggest trophic spider–lizard associations between Ctenidae and Dactyloidae, followed by Theraphosidae and Liolaemidae. The body sizes of the spiders and lizards showed a positive relationship, and spiders were smaller than their prey. We conclude that various spider taxa can be considered lizard predators and they may be ecologically important in the Neotropical and Andean regions. However, spiders of prime predation relevance seem to be those of the Ctenidae and Theraphosidae families.

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Notes on the feeding habits of a wandering spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Arachnida: Ctenidae)

Cited by 11 publications

References 41 publications

Prey and Venom Efficacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae)

Prey and Venom Efficacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae)

Morphological and molecular evidence support the taxonomic separation of the medically important Neotropical spiders Phoneutria depilata (Strand, 1909) and P. boliviensis (F.O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897) (Araneae, Ctenidae)

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

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