Abstract
Interactions between vertebrates and invertebrates at similar trophic levels can shape community diversity and interactions, being frogs acting as prey and predators. Although spiders are a common dietary item for anurans, reports of frog predation by spiders are increasingly common in the literature. Anurans are preyed by several arthropod taxa, and spiders are, by far, the most important invertebrate predator for the group. Herein we report six new predation events by spiders on frogs and, based on a literature review, we analyzed the relationship between frog and spider sizes, and on prey niche overlap between frog and spider families for the Neotropics. Records of predation increased substantially in the last decades, especially after 2005. We recovered a relationship between frog and spider sizes, with the spider predator similar-sized or smaller than frogs. Most anuran prey ranged from 15 to 25 mm in body size, while most spiders were about 53% smaller than the frogs. Spiders were not specialized in any anuran family. Large cursorial spiders were involved in most of the reports, especially Ctenidae spiders, and Hylidae was the most frequently predated frog family. Since this prey-predator relationship is often determined by size, spiders may avoid larger frogs, explaining the pattern of our recovered reports of predation on smaller frogs. Although common, we suggest that future reports on spider-frog predation events should include more information, such as prey/predator sizes and identification, antipredator strategies, time for capture and ingestion, anuran stage, and habitat characteristics.
Similar content being viewed by others
Data availability
Not applicable.
References
Abegg AD, Rosa CM, Malta-Borges LM (2014) Predation of Dendropsophus minutus (Anura: Hylidae) by Aglaoctenus oblongus (Araneae: Lycosidae). Herpetology Notes 7:605–606
Acosta AD, Rengifo JP, Vigo MJR (2013) Mortalidad de larvas de Dendrobates reticulatus Boulenger 1883 (Anura: Dendrobatidae) en varillal alto seco de la Reserva Nacional Allpahuayo-Mishana, Loreto. Conocimiento Amazónico 4:3–13
Almeida SC, Messas YF, Cicchi PJP (2010) Predation on newly metamorphosed toad Rhinella ornata (Anura: Bufonidae) by the spider, Lycosa erythrognata (Araneae: Lycosidae). Herpetology Notes 3:173–174
Almeida MRN, Fonseca WL, Correa RR, Oliveira AS, Bernarde OS, Oliveira I (2020) Predation of the treefrog Osteocephalus leprieurii (Anura: Hylidae) by the giant fishing spider (Ancylometes rufus) (Araneae, Ctenidae) in the western Brazilian Amazon. Herpetology Notes 13:487–489
Araújo CO, Almeida-Santos SM (2013) Composição, riqueza e abundância de anuros em um remanescente de Cerrado e Mata Atlântica no estado de São Paulo. Biota Neotropica 13:264–275. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1676-06032013000100026
Araújo FRRC, Bocchiglieri A, Holmes RM (2007) Ecological aspects of the Hypsiboas albopunctatus (Anura, Hylidae) in Central Brazil. Neotrop Biol Conserv 2:165–168. https://doi.org/10.1670/09-255.1
Arrivillaga C, Oakley J, Ebiner S (2019) Predation of Scinax ruber (Anura: Hylidae) tadpoles by a fishing spider of the genus Thaumasia (Araneae: Pisauridae) in Southeast Peru. Herpetol Bull 148:41–42. https://doi.org/10.33256/hb148.4142
Assis RA, Borges RE, Souza MB, Barros JF, Santos LRS (2018) Registro de predação de Pseudopaludicola saltica (Anura: Leptodactylidae) por aranha-lobo (Araneae: Lycosidae). Oecologia Australis 22:291–295. https://doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2018.2203.07
Baracho EBO, Silva JS, Nascimento BHM, Fonseca EMF, Magalhães FM (2014) Dendropsophus branneri (Cochran, 1948) (Anura: Hylidae) as prey to invertebrates in northeastern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 7:17–19
Barbo FE, Rodrigues MG, Couto FM, Sawaya RJ (2009) Predation on Leptodactylus marmoratus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) by the spider Ctenus medius (Araneae: Ctenidae) in the Atlantic Forest. Herpetology Notes 2:99–100
Barreto L, Moreira G (1996) Seasonal variation in age structure and spatial distribution of a savana larval anuran assemblage in Central Brazil. J Herpetol 30:87–92. https://doi.org/10.2307/1564716
Bastos RP, Oliveira OC, Pombal JP Jr (1994) Hyla minuta (NCN). Predation. Herpetol Rev 25:118
Bernarde PS, Souza MB, Kokobum MCN (1999) Predation of Hyla minuta Peters, 1872 (Anura, Hylidae) by Ancylometes spp. (Aranea, Pisauridae). Biociências 7:199–203
Bernarde PS, Albuquerque S, Miranda DB, Turci LC (2013) Herpetofauna of the forest of lower Moa River, Cruzeiro do Sul, acre. Biota Neotropica 13:220–244. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032013000100023
Biavati GM, Wiederhecker HC, Colli GR (2004) Diet of Epipedobates flavopictus (Anura: Dendrobatidae) in a Neotropical savanna. J Herpetol 38:510–518. https://doi.org/10.1670/30-04A
Bocchiglieri A, Mendonça AF, Motta PC (2010) Dendropsophus minutus (lesser Treefrog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 41:335
Bohannan BJ, Lenski RE (2000) The relative importance of competition and predation varies with productivity in a model community. Am Nat 156:329–340. https://doi.org/10.1086/303393
Boistel R, Pauwels OSG (2002) Leptodactylus knudseni (Knudsen’s bullfrog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 33:303
Bovo RP, Oliveira EG, Bandeira LN (2014) Predation on two Dendropsophus species (Anura: Hylidae) by a Pisaurid spider in the Atlantic forest, southeastern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 7:329–331
Brasileiro CA, Oyamaguchi HM (2006) Scinax alcatraz (Alcatraz snouted Treefrog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 37:451
Brescovit AD, Oliveira U, Santos AJ (2011) Aranhas (Araneae, Arachnida) do estado de São Paulo, Brasil: Diversidade, esforço amostral e estado do conhecimento. Biota Neotropica 11:1–31. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032011000500035
Brodie E III, Brodie ED Jr (1999) Predator-prey arms races: asymmetrical selection on predators and prey may be reduced when prey are dangerous. Bioscience 49:557–568. https://doi.org/10.2307/1313476
Brusquetti F, Thomé MTC, Canedo C, Condez TH, Haddad CFB (2013) A new species of Ischnocnema parva species series (Anura, Brachycephalidae) from northern state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Herpetologica 69:175–185. https://doi.org/10.1655/HERPETOLOGICA-D-12-00050
Bucaretchi F, Bertani R, Capitani EM, Hyslop S (2018) Envenomation by wandering spiders (genus Phoneutria). In: Gopalakrishnakone SMA, Gnamathasan CA, Habib AG, Fernando R, Yang CC, Vogel CW, Tambourgi DV, Seifert SA (eds) Clinical Toxinology, 1st eds. Springer, Netherlands, pp 101–154. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-7438-3_63
Bueno-Villafañe D, Ortiz E, Benitez C, Velázquez EAO, Duré-Prado A, Cabral H, Piñanez Y, Kochalka J (2018) Predation on Leptodactylus fuscus (Schneider, 1799) (Anura: Leptodactylidae) by Ancylometes concolor (Perty, 1833) (Araneae: Ctenidae). Herpetology Notes 11:773–775
Caldart VM, Iop S, Rocha MC, Cechin SZ (2011) Diurnal and nocturnal predators of Crossodactylus schmidti Gallardo, 1961 (Anura, Hylodidae) in southern Brazil. North-West J Zool 7:342–345
Caramaschi U, Pombal JP Jr (2001) Barycholos savagei: a junior synonym of Paludicola ternezti, with notes on development. J Herpetol 35:357–360
Carmona CAG, Rdríguez JSF, Arango JAC, Vargas CC (2017) Engystomops pustulosus (Tungara Frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 48:408
Carvalho JC, Hernández-Ruz EJ, Oliveira EA (2013) Allobates bruneus (Chapada Rocket Frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 44:119
Ceron K, Moroti MT, Benício RA, Balboa ZP, Marçola Y, Pereira LB, Santana DJ (2018) Diet and first report of batracophagy in Leptodactylus podicipinus (Anura: Leptodactylidae). Neotrop Biodivers 4:69–73. https://doi.org/10.1080/23766808.2018.1467173
Cooper WE, Caldwell JP, Vitt LJ (2008) Effective crypsis and its maintenance by immobility in Craugastor frogs. Copeia 2008:527–532. https://doi.org/10.1643/CE-07-056
Costa RN, Nomura F (2014) Pseudopaludicola mystacalis (Cope’s swamp frog) predation. Herpetol Rev 45:114–115
Costa MC, Fenolio DB, Tonial IJ, Vieira V Jr, Silva HLR, Silva NJ Jr (2006) Hyla albopunctata (spotted tree frog), H. multifasciata (many-banded tree frog), Barycholos ternetzi (Savage’s Goiás frog), Epipedobates flavopictus (Cerrado poison frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 37:337–338
Costa-Campos CE, Corrêa JG, França PF, Souza JC, Avelar YKS, Silva PHE (2018) Field observation of an adult red-snouted treefrog Scinax ruber (Anura, Hylidae) being consumed by a giant fishing spider Ancylometes rufus (Araneae, Ctenidae). Alytes 35:12–16
Costa-Pereira R, Martins FI, Sczesny-Moraes EA, Brescovit A (2010) Predation on young treefrog (Osteocephalus taurinus) by arthropods (Insecta, Mantodea and Arachnida, Araneae) in Central Brazil. Biota Neotropica 10:470–472. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032010000300042
Daza JD, Burrowes PA, Medina P (2008) Eleutherodactylus coqui (Coquí). Predation. Herpetol Rev 39:459–460
De-Carvalho CB, Freitas EB, Santos RA, Gueiros FB, Santos RVS, Faria RG (2010) Ischnocnema ramagii (Paraiba robber frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 41:336–337
Dehling DM (2007) Smilisca sordida (Drab Tree Frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 38:444
Del-Grande ML, Moura G (1997) Hyla sanborni (NCN). Predation. Herpetol Rev 28:14
Delia J, Rivera-Ordonez JM, Salazar-Nicholls MJ, Warkentin KM (2019) Hatching plasticity and the adaptive benefits of extended embryonic development in glassfrogs. Evol Ecol 33:37–53. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-018-9963-2
Donnelly MA, Guyer C (1994) Patterns of reproduction and habitat use in an assemblage of Neotropical Hylid frogs. Oecologia 98:291–302. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00324217
Duellman WE, Pianka ER (1990) Biogeography of nocturnal insectivores: historical events and ecological filters. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 21:57–68. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.21.110190.000421
Duellman W, Trueb L (1994) Biology of amphibians. Baltimore, USA
Ervin EL, Lovich RE, Gray-Lovich K, Scott NJ, Lopez J (2007) Eleutherodactylus stejnegerianus (Stejneger’s robber frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 38:185
Espinoza-Pérnia J, Infante-Rivero E (2017) Primer registro de depredación de Leptodactylus fragilis por Lycosa sp. en Venezuela. Boletín del Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas 49:255–261
Eterovick PC, Brandão RA (2001) A description of the tadpoles and advertisement calls of members of Hyla pseudopseudis group. J Herpetol 35:442–450. https://doi.org/10.2307/1565962
Fadel RM, Thaler R, Folly H, Galvão C, Hoffmann M, Silva LA, Santana DJ, Mângia S (2019) Predation of anurans across multiple life stages in an Amazon-Cerrado transitional zone. Herpetology Notes 12:895–899
Figueiredo VAMB, Melo FS, Tavares-Pinheiro R, Brescovit AD, Costa-Campos CE (2020) Predation on anurans by Ancylometes rufus (Araneae, Ctenidae) in Amapá state. Herpetology Notes 13:397–399
Foelix RF (2011) Biology of spiders. USA, New York
Foerster NE, Carvalho BHG, Conte CE (2017) Predation on Hypsiboas bischoffi (Anura: Hylidae) by Phoneutria nigriventer (Araneae: Ctenidae) in southern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 10:403–404
Folly M, Carvalho-e-Silva SP, Castanheira PS, Baptista RL, Góes D (2014) Dendropsophus pseudomeridianus (small tree frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 45:477
Folt B, Lapinski W (2017) New observations of frog and lizard predation by wandering spider and orb-weaver spiders in Costa Rica. Phyllomedusa: J Herpetol 16:269–277. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v16i2p269-277
Fong AG, Hero JM, Bignotte-Giró I, Solano LAR, Gutierrez YS (2012) Eleutherodactylus cuneatus. Predation. Herpetol Rev 43:319–320
Fukushima CS, Bertani R (2017) Taxonomic revision and cladistics analysis of Avicularia Lamarck, 1818 (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new Aviculariinae genera. Zookeys 659:1–185. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.659.10717
Gaiarsa MP, Alencar LRV, Dias CJ, Martins M (2012) Predator or prey? Predatory interactions between the frog Cycloraphus boraceiensis and the spider Trechaleoides biocellata in the Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 5:67–68
Ganong C, Folt B (2015) Pristimantis cerasinus (clay-colored rain frog). Mortality Herpetol Rev 46:416
Garb JE, Hayashi CY (2013) Molecular evolution of α-latrotoxin, the exceptionally potent vertebrate neurotoxin in black widow spider venom. Mol Biol Evol 30:999–1014. https://doi.org/10.1093/molbev/mst011
Garb JE, González A, Gillespie RG (2004) The black widow spider genus Latrodectus (Araneae: Theridiidae): phylogeny, biogeography, and invasion history. Mol Phylogenet Evol 31:1127–1142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.012
Garda AA, Costa GC, França FGR, Mesquita DO (2007) Ecology of Lysapsus limellum in the Brazilian Amazon river basin. Herpetol J 17:141–148
Giaretta AA, Menin M, Facure KG, Kokobum MNC, Filho JCO (2008) Species richness, relative abundance, and habitat of reproduction of terrestrial frogs in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Cerrado biome, southeastern Brazil. Iheringia Sér Zool 98:181–188. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0073-47212008000200002
González M, Peretti AV, Vieira C, Costa FG (2013) Differences in sexual behaviour of two distant populations of the funnel-web wolf spider Aglaoctenus lagotis. J Ethol 31:175–184. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10164-013-0365-1
Gotelli NJ, Entsminger GL (2003) EcoSim: null models software for ecology. Version 7. Acquired intelligence Inc. and Kesey-bear. http://garyentsminger.com/ecosim.htm
Gray HM, Green DM (1999) Physalaemus pustulosus (túngara frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 30:93
Greenstone MH (1984) Determinants of web spider species diversity: vegetation structural diversity vs. prey availability. Oecologia 62:299–304. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384260
Haddad V Jr, Cardoso JLC, Lupi O, Tyring SK (2012) Tropical dermatology: venomous arthropods and human skin: part II. Diplopoda, Chilopoda, and Arachnida. J Am Acad Dermatol 67:347–3e1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaad.2012.05.028
Haddad V Jr, Amorim PCHD, Haddad WT Jr, Cardoso JLC (2015) Venomous and poisonous arthropods: identification, clinical manifestations of envenomation, and treatments used in human injuries. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 48:650–657. https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0242-2015
Hayes MP (1983) Predation on the adults and pre-hatching stages of glass frogs (Centrolenidae). Biotropica 15:74–76. https://doi.org/10.2307/2388005
Hernández-Cuadrado EE, Bernal MH (2009) Engystomops pustulosus (Tungara frog) and Hypsiboas crepitans (Colombian tree frog). Predation on anuran embryos. Herpetol Rev 40:431–432
Höfer H, Brescovit AD (2000) A revision on the Neotropical spider genus Ancylometes Bertkau (Araneae: Pisauridae). Insect Syst Evol 31:323–360. https://doi.org/10.1163/187631200X00075
Jablonski D (2015) Predation on Pristimantis ridens (cope, 1866) by a wandering spider (Ctenidae Keyserling, 1877) in mountain cloud forest of Costa Rica. Herpetology Notes 8:1–3
Jansen M, Schulze A (2008) Dendropsophus leucophyllatus (Bereis’ tree frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 39:459
Johansson F, Lederer B, Lind MI (2010) Trait performance correlations across life stages under environmental conditions in the common frog, Rana temporaria. PLoS One 5:7. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0011680
Kacevas N, Gobel N, Laborda A, Laufer G (2019) Predation on Pseudopaludicola falcipes (Hensel, 1867) (Anura: Leptodactylidae) by Lycosa thorelli (Keyserling, 1877) (Araneae: Lycosidae). Herpetology Notes 12:999–1000
Kirchmeyer J, Amaral LC, Magaldi A, Baptista RL, Carvalho-e-Silva SP (2017) Predation on the treefrog Scinax similis (Anura: Hylidae) by the orb-weaver spider Eriophora fuliginea (Araneae: Araneidae) in southeastern Brazil. Phyllomedusa 16:113–116
Lima AP, Magnusson WE (1998) Partitioning seasonal time: interactions among size, foraging activity and diet in leaf-litter frogs. Oecologia 116:259–266. https://doi.org/10.1007/s004420050587
Lima AP, Magnusson WE, Menin M, Erdtmann LK, Rodrigues DJ, Keller C, Hödl W (2006) Guide to the frogs of the Reserva Adolpho Ducke: Central Amazonia. Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Lira AFA, Oliveira RF, Moura GJB (2020) Predation of Dendropsophus branneri (Cochran, 1948) (Anura: Hylidae) by wandering spiders (Araneae: Ctenidae) in an Atlantic Forest remnant. Herpetology Notes 13:421–424
Luiz AM, Pires TA, Dimitrov V, Sawaya RJ (2013) Predation on tadpole of Itapotihyla langsdorffi (Anura: Hylidae) by the semi-aquatic spider Thaumasia sp. (Aranea: Pisauridae) in the Atlantic Forest, southeastern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 6:451–452
Lutz B (1973) Brazilian species of Hyla. Texas, USA, Austin
Machado M, Lipinski M (2014) Predation event on tadpole of Scinax aromothyella (Anura: Hylidae) by the fishing spider Thaumasia velox (Araneae: Pisauridae) in a rainforest of southern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 7:517–518
Maffei F, Ubaid FK, Jim J (2010) Predation of herps by spiders (Araneae) in the Brazilian Cerrado. Herpetology Notes 3:167–170
Magalhães RF, Garda AA, Marques NCS, Brandão RA (2016) Sexual dimorfism and resource utilisation by the Veadeiros waterfall frog Bokermannohyla pseudopseudis (Anura: Hylidae). Salamandra 52:171–177
Marques-Pinto T, Barreto-Lima AF, Brandão RA (2019) Resource use by an assemblage of terrestrial frogs from the Brazilian Cerrado. North-West J Zool 15:135–146
Marra RV, Hatano FH, Boquimpani-Freitas L, Marques RV, Sluys M, Rocha CFD (2003) Scinax alter (NCN). Predation. Herpetol Rev 34:55–56
Martins ACJS, Kiefer MC, Siqueira CC, Van Sluys M, Menezes VA, Rocha CFD (2010) Ecology of Ischnocnema parva (Anura, Brachycephalidae) at the Atlantic rainforest of Serra da Concórdia, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Zoologia 27:201–208. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-46702010000200007
McCormick S, Polis GA (1982) Arthropods that prey on vertebrates. Biol Rev 57:29–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-185X.1982.tb00363.x
Menin M, Rodrigues DJ, Azevedo CS (2005) Predation of amphibians by spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) in the Neotropical region. Phyllomedusa. J Herpetol 4:39–47. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v4i1p39-47
Mira-Mendes CV, Solé M, Ruas DS (2017) Physalaemus camacan. Predation. Herpetol Rev 48:414
Morin PJ (1986) Interactions between intraspecific competition and predation in an amphibian predator-prey system. Ecology 67:713–720. https://doi.org/10.2307/1937694
Motta PC (2014) Aracnídeos do Cerrado. Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
Moura MR, Azevedo LP (2011) Observation of predation of the giant fishing spider Ancylometes rufus (Walckenaer, 1837) (Araneae, Ctenidae) on Dendropsophus melanargyreus cope, 1877 (Anura, Hylidae). Biota Neotropica 11:350–351. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032011000400028
Moura RR, Stefani V, Guastalla MG, Correa WS (2019) Dendropsophus minutus (lesser Treefrog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 50:758–759
Muscat E, Rotenberg EL, Chagas CA (2014) Predation of Scinax littoralis (Anura: Hylidae) by Eriophora fuliginea (Araneae: Araneidae) in southeastern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 7:169–170
Nyffeler M (1999) Prey selection of spiders in the field. J Arachnol 27:317–324
Nyffeler M, Altig R (2020) Spiders as frog-eaters: a global perspective. J Arachnol 48:26–42. https://doi.org/10.1636/0161-8202-48.1.26
Nyffeler M, Vetter RS (2018) Black widow spiders, Latrodectus spp. (Araneae: Theridiidae), and other spiders feeding on mammals. J Arachnol 46:541–548. https://doi.org/10.1636/joa-s-18-026.1
Oliveira IS, Oliveira AKC, Cestari MM, Toledo LF (2010) Predation on Dendropsophus werneri (Anura: Hylidae) by a Lycosid in the Atlantic Forest, southern Brazil. Herpetology Notes 3:299–300
Pacheco EO, Ferreira VG, Pedro FMSR, Santana DJ (2016) Predation on Scinax crospedospilus (Anura: Hylidae) by Phoneutria nigriventer (Araneae: Ctenidae) in an Atlantic Forest fragment in the southeast of Brazil. Herpetology Notes 9:35–316
Parmelee JR (1999) Trophic ecology of a tropical anuran assemblage. Natural History Museum, University of Kansas 11:1–59
Parzen E (1962) On estimation of a probability density function and mode. Ann Math Stat 33:1065–1076. https://doi.org/10.1214/aoms/1177704472
Paz NS (1988) Ecologia y aspectos del comportamiento en Linothele sp. (Araneae, Dipluridae). J Arachnol 16:5–22
Pazin VFV (2006) Dendrophryniscus minutus (Amazonian tiny tree toad). Predation. Herpetol Rev 37:336
Pedrozo M, Almeida LS, Moroti MT, Santana DJ (2017) Predation on Physalaemus olfersii (Anura: Leptodactylidae) by Phoneutria nigriventer (Araneae: Ctenidae) in Atlantic Forest, southeast of Brazil. Herpetology Notes 10:369–371
Pertel W, Teixeira RL, Ferreira RB (2010) Comparison of diet and use of bromeliads between a bromelicolous and a bromeligenous anuran at an inselberg in the southeastern of Brazil. Caldasia 32:149–159
Pianka ER (1973) The structure of lizard communities. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 4:53–74. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.04.110173.000413
Pinto RO, Costa-Campos CE (2017) Predation on Dendropsophus brevifrons (Duellman & Crump 1974) (Anura: Hylidae) by the giant fishing spider Ancylometes rufus (Walckenaer, 1837) (Araneae: Ctenidae). Alytes 33:55–57
Pinto-Silva K, Neuhaus EB (2018) Scinax alter. Predation. Herpetol Rev 49:100–101
Polis GA, Holt RD (1992) Intraguild predation: the dynamics of complex trophic interactions. Trends Ecol Evol 7:151–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-5347(92)90208-S
Polis GA, Myers CA, Holt RD (1989) The ecology and evolution of intraguild predation: potential competitors that eat each other. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 20:297–330. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.es.20.110189.001501
Pontes JAL, Vrcibradic D, Rocha CFD, Van Sluys M, Kisling RW (2009) Eleutherodactylus cf. parvus (Girard’s robber frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 40:71
Prado GM, Borgo JH (2003) Scinax alter (NCN). Predation. Herpetol Rev 34:238–239
Pramuk JB, Alamillo H (2002) Hyla nana. Predation. Herpetol Rev 33:46–47
R Core Team (2019) R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna. http://www.R-project.org/
Ram K, Wickham H (2018) wesanderson: A Wes Anderson Palette Generator. MIT, Massachusetts, Cambridge, USA
Ramos-Torres D, Caicedo-Moncada JF (2019) Predation event on the poison frog Ameerega trivittata (Spix, 1824) by the giant fishing spider Ancylometes rufus (Walckenaer, 1837). Herpetology Notes 12:1167–1168
Rego FNAA, Venticinque EM, Brescovit AD (2005) Diversidade de aranhas errantes (Ctenidae e Sparassidae, Araneae) em uma floresta fragmentada. Biota Neotropica 5:45–52. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1676-06032005000200004
Ríos-Rodas L, Barragàn-Vazquez R, Cruz MP (2016) Dendropsophus microcephalus. Predation. Mesoamerican Herpetology 3:1001
Rodrigues DJ, Arruda R (2007) Dendropsophus sarayacuensis (Shreve’s Sarayacu treefrog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 38:437
Rosenblatt M (1956) Remarks on some nonparametric estimates of a density function. Ann Math Stat 27:832–837
Roslin T, Hardwick B, Novotny V, Petry WK, Andrew RN, Asmus A, Barrio IC et al (2017) Higher predation risk for insect prey at low latitudes and elevations. Science 356(6339):742–744. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaj1631
Salas CY, Lujan L, Quispe-Colca O (2019) Predation of Scinax garbei (Miranda-Ribeiro, 1926) (Anura: Hylidae) by the wandering spider Ctenus villasboasi Mello-Leitão, 1949 (Araneae: Ctenidae) in southeastern Peru. Herpetology Notes 12:265–267
Salcedo-Rivera GA, Fuentes-Mario JÁ, Tovar-Márquez J (2018) Predation of the frog Elachsitocleis panamensis by the spider Ancylometes bogotensis: first record. Biota Colombiana 19:128–132
Santana DJ, Silva ET, Oliveira ES (2009) Predação de Dendropsophus elegans (Anura, Hylidae) por Phoneutria nigriventer (Araneae, Ctenidae) em Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Boletim do Museu de Biologia Mello Leitão 26:59–65
Santoro GRCC, Brandão RA (2014) Reproductive modes, habitat use, and richness of anurans from Chapada dos Veadeiros, Central Brazil. North-West J Zool 10:365–373
Santos-Silva CR, Santos EDS, Gomes L, Ferrari SF (2013) Predation of a Phyllomedusa nordestina tadpole (Anura, Hylidae) by a fishing spider, Thaumasia sp. (Araneae, Pisauridae), in a temporary pond in the Raso da Catarina, Bahia, Brazil. Herpetology Notes 6:193–194
Saucier JR (2004) Arachnid envenomation. Emerg Med Clin North Am 22:405–422. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emc.2004.01.006
Schiesari LC, Juncá FA, Accacio GM (1995) Hylodes phyllodes (NCN). Predation. Herpetol Rev 26:30–31
Schulze A, Jansen M (2010) A tadpole of Trachycephalus venulosus (Anura: Hylidae) as prey for a fishing spider (Araneae: Pisauridae) in the bolivian Chiquitano dry Fores. Herpetology Notes 3:297–298
Sena M, Solé M (2019) Predation on Dendropsophus haddadi (Anura, Hylidae) by the orb-web spider Parawixia kochi (Araneae, Araneidae) in a cacao plantation in southern Bahia, Brazil. Herpetology Notes 12:629–630
Serafim H, Duarte MR, Ienne S, Cicchi PJP (2007) Dendropsophus elegans (Elegant Forest TreeFrog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 38:437
Sih A (1984) The behavioral response race between predator and prey. Am Nat 123:143–150
Silva CF, Alcantara EP, Quirino TF, Ávila RW, Silva LAF (2015) Pseudopaludicola pocoto. Predation Herpetol Rev 46:417
Silva-Silva DW, Corrêa KJG, Costa-Campos CE (2013) Rhinella granulosa (granulated toad). Predation. Herpetol Rev 44:657
Souza VC, Cabral LS, Pereira IMS, Santos LDN, Moura GJB (2019) Dendropsophus branneri (Little Frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 50:112
Stefani V, Del-Claro K, Silva LA, Guimarães B, Tizo-Pedroso E (2011) Mating behavior and maternal care in the tropical savanna funnel-web spider Aglaoctenus lagotis Holmberg (Araneae: Lycosidae). J Nat Hist 45:17–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2011.552802
Summers K (1999) Dendrobates auratus. Predation. Herpetol Rev 30:91
Tavares-Pinheiro R, Figueiredo VAMB, Pedroso-Santos F, Costa-Campos CE (2019) Adenomera hylaedactyla (Napo tropical bullfrog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 50:110–111
Temple SA (1987) Predation on turtle nests increases near ecological edges. Copeia 1987:250–252. https://doi.org/10.2307/1446069
Toft CA (1980) Feeding ecology of thirteen syntopic species of anurans in a seasonal tropical environment. Oecologia 45:131–141. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00346717
Toledo LF (2003) Predation on seven south American anuran species by water bugs (Belostomatidae). Phyllomedusa. J Herpetol 2:105–108. https://doi.org/10.11606/issn.2316-9079.v2i2p105-108
Toledo LF (2005) Predation of juvenile and adult anurans by invertebrates: current knowledge and perspectives. Herpetol Rev 36:395–400. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00195.x
Toledo LF, Ribeiro RS, Haddad CFB (2007) Anurans as prey: an exploratory analysis and size relationships between predators and their prey. J Zool 271:170–177. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00195.x
Uetz GW (1992) Foraging strategies of spiders. Trends Ecol Evol 7:155–159. https://doi.org/10.1016/0169-5347(92)90209-T
Ugarte CA, Briggs V (2007) Hyla loquax (swamp tree frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 38:186
Valdez J (2020) Arthropods as vertebrate predators: a review of global patterns. Preprints 2020:2020020119. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202002.0119.v1
Valenzuela-Rojas JC, González-Gómez JC, Meijden AVD, Cortés JN, Guevara G, Franco LM, Pekár S, García LF (2019) Prey and venom efficacy of male and female wandering spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae). Toxins 11:622. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins11110622
Verburg P, Kilham SS, Pringle CM, Lips KR, Drake DL (2007) A stable isotope study of a Neotropical stream food web prior to the extirpation of its large amphibian community. J Trop Ecol 23:643–651. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467407004518
Villanova JL, Saibene PE, Agostini MG (2015) Hypsiboas pulchellus (Montevideo tree frog, Ranita de Zarzal). Predation. Herpetol Rev 46:411–412
Vollrath F (1978) A close relationship between two spiders (Arachnida, Araneidae): Curimagua bayano synecious on a Diplura species. Psyches 85:347–353. https://doi.org/10.1155/1978/27439
Von May R, Biggi E, Cárdenas H, Diaz MI, Alarcón C, Herrera V, Santa-Cruz R, Tomasinelli F, Westeen EP, Sánchez-Paredes CM, Larson JG, Title PO, Grundler MR, Grundler MC, Rabosky ARD, Rabosky DL (2019) Ecological interactions between arthropods and small vertebrates in a lowland Amazon rainforest. Amphibian & Reptile Conservation 13:65–77
White G (2015) Observation of a spider, Ancylometes bogotensis (Ctenidae), preying on the frog Rhinella beebei (Bufonidae) in Trinidad. Living World, Journal of the Trinidad and Tobago Field Naturalists' Club 2015:61–62
Zina J, Gonzaga MO (2006) Aplastodiscus arildae (Green Tree Frog). Predation. Herpetol Rev 37:440
Zumbado-Ulate H, Soley-Guardia F, Bolaños F (2009) Craugastor ranoides (NCN). Predation. Herpetol Rev 40:201
Acknowledgments
We thank Robert Alexander Pyron and Biologia reviewers for their comments on the earlier version of the manuscript. We also thank Sérgio Brant, Victor Fávaro Augusto, Saymon de Albuquerque and Henrique Nogueira for kindly providing photographs.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
Not applicable.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent for publication
Not applicable.
Code availability
Not applicable.
Additional information
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meneses, A.S.d., Corrêa, B.A.A.P., Fernandes, M.d.R. et al. What size of Neotropical frogs do spiders prey on?. Biologia 76, 919–932 (2021). https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-00603-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/s11756-020-00603-x