Herpetology Notes, volume 13: 231-233 (2020) (published online on 10 March 2020)

Predation on Colombian Endemic Frog Rheobates palmatus (Werner, 1899) (Anura: Aromobatidae) by a Whip-Spider Heterophrynus sp. (Amblypygi: Phrynidae)

Juan C. Zuluaga-Isaza1,*, Sergio Escobar-Lasso1, Camilo A. Llanos-Arias1, and Cristhian Londoño1

Among the invertebrates that feed on amphibians, predation event took place on a rock at the edge of the arthropods are by far their main predators, which is creek (>65 cm from water). The amblypygid grabbed supported by the high numbers of predation events the frog on the right hind leg (Fig. 1A) and the middle recorded in the scientific literature (see Toledo, 2005). left of the body with its raptorial pedipalps (Fig. 1B). Four groups of arthropods are recognized as the main The frog was still alive but it did not show any sign predators of amphibians: Arachnida, Insecta, Crustacea of struggling. Using the large spines of the raptorial and Chilopoda (Maffei et al., 2014). Among arachnids, pedipalps, the Whip-Spider held the frog (Fig. 1C) spiders have been widely reported as the main while moving across the rock, looking for a hollow in predator of embryos, tadpoles, juveniles and adults of the rock to take refuge in. Inside the hole, the frog was amphibians (Menin et al., 2005), followed by records still alive twenty minutes after the attack but remained of amblypygids (Wizen and Aznar-González, 2016) and motionless. The Whip-Spider consumed half of the frog scorpions (Villanueva-Rivera et al., 2000). body, leaving the remaining carcass. Amblypygi are known as Whip-Spiders, they are The neotropical Whip-Spiders of the genus distributed in most tropical and subtropical terrestrial Heterophrynus are the largest amblypygids of South ecosystems (Weygoldt, 2000). The diet of Whip- America, distributed from southern Brazil to northern Spiders is varied, seemingly opportunistic, and Colombia (Weygoldt, 2000; Giupponi and Kury, 2013). comprised mainly of arthropods (Chapin and Hebets, In Colombia, there are confirmed records of five 2016). However, there are records of Whip-Spiders species of Whip-Spiders (Armas et al., 2013; Giupponi eating small vertebrates such as frogs, lizards, and even and Kury, 2013; Víquez et al., 2014). Their habits are hummingbirds (see Reagan, 1996; Kok, 1998; Owen mostly nocturnal; during the day they are often hidden and Cokendolpher, 2006; Wizen and Aznar- González, under the bark of trees or within rock crevices, at night 2016). Here, we describe a first predation event on a they emerge from their refuges to hunt preys (Weygoldt, Palm Rocket Frog Rheobates palmatus (Werner, 1899) 2000). by the Whip-Spider Heterophrynus sp. The Palm Rocket Frog R. palmatus (Aromobatidae) During herpetological surveys conducted on 22 January is endemic to Colombia, present in Central and Eastern 2019 at a creek known locally as Aguetarro-Lavapatas, mountain ranges and in the Serranía de la Macarena Norcasia municipality, Caldas Department, Colombia from 350 to 2520 m asl (Ramírez-Pinilla et al., 2010; (5.59973°N, -74.95027°W; WGS84), an individual Acosta-Galvis, 2019). The Palm Rocket Frog is a of Whip-Spider Heterophrynus sp. (Phrynidae) was diurnal species with semi-aquatic habits, they are very observed feeding on an individual of Palm Rocket Frog, fast frogs during daytime when they are active foraging R. palmatus (SVL 33.5 mm; W 4.5 g) at 21:28 h. The (Ramírez-Pinilla et al., 2010). They are commonly found diving and swimming in rocky creeks and small puddles or perched on nearby rocks (Ramírez-Pinilla et al., 2010; Marín-Martínez and Rojas-Morales, 2016). These frogs are much less active at night, when they 1 Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Caldas. are hidden under the leaf litter, rock crevices or inside Calle 65 No. 26-10. Manizales, Colombia. small cave-like structures (Lüddecke, 1999). Therefore, * Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected] it is important to highlight that both the Palm Rocket 232 Juan C. Zuluaga-Isaza et al.

Figure 1. Predation on the Colombian Endemic Frog Rheobates palmatus by the Whip-Spider Heterophrynus sp. in the Middle Magdalena River Valley, Caldas Department, Colombia. (a) Frontal view showing holding the prey minutes later of the initial attack; (b) lateral view; (c) view showing large spines penetrating the right eye, note that the frog is alive. Photographs: Sergio Escobar-Lasso.

Frog and the Whip-Spider share similar micro-habitats mygalomorphic spider, Xenesthis immanis. The Whip- within the creeks, which could facilitate the predator- Spider Heterophrynus sp. is considered the second prey encounters. known predator for R. palmatus. Even though, the Marín-Martínez and Rojas-Morales (2016) published Whip-Spiders had already been documented feeding the first known predation event for R. palmatus by a on frogs, records in the scientific literature are still Predation on Colombian Endemic Frog by a Whip-Spider 233 scarce (Hovey et al., 2016). To date, all known records Marín-Martínez, M., Rojas-Morales, J.A. (2016): Predation of amblypygids feeding on frogs belong to the genera by a mygalomorphic spider Xenesthis immanis (Araneae: Phrynus and Heterophrynus (Formanowicz et al., 1981; Theraphosidae) on a stream-dwelling frog, Rheobates palmatus (Anura: Aromobatidae). IRCF Reptiles & Amphibians 23: Stewart and Woolbright, 1996; Hernández-Ruz et al., 175–177. 2012; Hovey et al., 2016; Wizen and Aznar-González, Menin, M., de Jesus Rodrigues, D., de Azevedo, C.S. (2005): 2016). Overall, records of amblypygid diets and feeding Predation on amphibians by spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) in behaviour are rare, mostly because of their nocturnal the Neotropical region. Phyllomedusa: Journal of Herpetology feeding habits (Ladle and Velander, 2003). The 4: 39–47. predation event by the Whip-Spider Heterophrynus sp. Owen, J.L., Cokendolpher, J.C. (2006): Tailless whip scorpion on the Colombian endemic frog R. palmatus reported (Phrynus longipes) feeds on Antillean crested hummingbird (Orthorhyncus cristatus). The Wilson Journal of Ornithology here provides important information about the natural 118: 422–423. history of both species. Ramírez-Pinilla, M., Osorno-Muñoz, M., Rueda-Almonacid, J.V., Amézquita, A., Ardila-Robayo, M. (2010): Rheobates Acknowledgments. 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