See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317901650 Predation on a Weasel Skink (Saproscincus mustelinus) (Squamata: Scincidae: Lygosominae) by a Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti) (Araneae: Araneomorpha: Theridiidae), with a rev... Article in Herpetofauna · June 2017 CITATIONS READS 0 146 2 authors, including: Mark O'Shea University of Wolverhampton 102 PUBLICATIONS 537 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: PNG Snakebite Research Project View project Taxonomy, natural history and ecology of Southeast Asian amphibians and reptiles View project All content following this page was uploaded by Mark O'Shea on 26 June 2017. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 44-1.qxp_HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 35-1 23/5/17 4:38 PM Page 49 PREDATION ON A WEASEL SKINK (SAPROSCINCUS MUSTELINUS) (SQUAMATA: SCINCIDAE: LYGOSOMINAE) BY A REDBACK SPIDER (LATRODECTUS HASSELTI) (ARANEAE: ARANEOMORPHA: THERIDIIDAE), WITH A REVIEW OF OTHER LATRODECTUS PREDATION EVENTS INVOLVING SQUAMATES Mark O’Shea1,3 and Kathryn Kelly2 1Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1LY, United Kingdom, and West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire, DY12 1LF, United Kingdom. 25 Moor Street, East Bentleigh, Victoria 3165, Australia. 3Email: [email protected] Small vertebrates occasionally fall victim to on the dorsal surface of the bulbous black large or venomous invertebrates, one of the abdomen and red hourglass on its ventral most frequently reported scenarios being that side, while males rarely exceed 3 mm (Brunet, of a small lizard predated by a venomous 1994). Adult female L. hasselti possess a arachnid (Bauer, 1990). The Redback Spider, highly neurotoxic venom containing the Latrodectus hasselti Thorell, 1870, is an presynaptic neurotoxin latrotoxin, which indigenous Australasian species belonging to specifically targets vertebrates,α- causing con- the cosmopolitan genus Latrodectus Walcke- siderable pain (Garb & Yaashi, 2013) and is naer, 1805, which also includes the black capable of causing human fatalities, widow spiders of Europe (L. tredecimguttatus although no human deaths have been report- (Rossi, 1790); L. lilianae Melic, 2000); the ed in Australia since the advent of antivenom widow spiders of North America (L. mactans in 1956 (Brunet, 1994). (Fabricius, 1775); L. hesperus Chamberlin & Latrodectus hasselti feeds primarily on small Ivie, 1935; L. bishopi Kaston, 1838; L. vario- invertebrates such as woodlice, flies, beetles, lus Walckenaer, 1837); the button spiders of moths and cockroaches, but there are reports Africa (L. cinctus Blackwall, 1865; L. indistinc- of it preying on larger venomous inverte- tus Cambridge, 1904; L. karooensis Smithers, brates, including centipedes (Roberts, 1941), 1944; L. rhodesiensis Mackay, 1872; L. geo- and wandering male trapdoor and funnel- metricus Koch, 1841), and the endangered web spiders (Brunet, 1998). Vertebrates are katipo spider (L. katipo Powell, 1871) of New also documented in the diet of female L. has- Zealand (World Spider Catalogue, 2016). selti, and while some fishing spiders Distributed throughout Australia, including (Dolomedes: Pisauridae) feed on fish, fish fry, Tasmania and many offshore islands, L. has- and frogs, and large orb-weaving spiders selti is also known from New Caledonia, and (Nephila: Nephilidae) occasionally trap birds, has been introduced into Japan, and New the vertebrate prey of Latrodectus is primarily Zealand (Vink et al., 2011), where it is feared reptilian (McCormick & Polis, 1982), although to pose a threat to L. katipo, through inbreed- there exists a single historical record of a ing and displacement. Latrodectus hasselti is mouse being captured by L. hasselti found in diverse habitats, from tropical forest (McKeown, 1943). to desert, where it inhabits dry, dark, and pro- We report predation on a Weasel Skink, tected places, e.g., rock crevices, dead wood, Saproscincus mustelinus (O’Shaughnessy, and shrubs. It is especially common in 1874), by a female Latrodectus hasselti in an anthropogenic environments. Female L. has- urban environment in the suburbs of Mel- selti may achieve 14 mm in body length and bourne, Victoria. possess a distinctive, eponymous red stripe Herpetofauna 44 (1 & 2) 2014 Page 49 HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 44-1.qxp_HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 35-1 23/5/17 4:38 PM Page 50 The scincid genus Saproscincus contains 2014). This small skink has many potential twelve species (Hoskin, 2013; Wilson & Swan, predators, including snakes (Webb et al., 2013; Cogger, 2014), distributed on the 2003), birds (Anderson & Burgin, 2008), eastern seaboard of Queensland, New South domestic cats (Dickman & Newsome, 2015), Wales and Victoria. They are oviparous, and predatory invertebrates (this paper). diurnal, terrestrial, and shade loving, being The predation event was observed at 1214 rarely encountered far from cover, hence the hrs on Saturday 21 November 2015 by one commonly applied vernacular name 'shade of us (KK). The spider had constructed its web skinks' (Cogger, 2014). The southern-most on the underside of a child's pram, which was species in the genus is S. mustelinus, to which normally stored folded in the garage at the the vernacular name Weasel Skink is usually family home in Carnegie, southeast Mel- applied. Saproscincus mustelinus is a small bourne, but had been transported by car to a species (SVL 45-55 mm) of the coast and play centre in Warrigal Road, Moorabbin. ranges of eastern New South Wales and Vic- Whilst the pram was at the play centre the toria, where it inhabits wet and dry sclerophyll spider was discovered in the act of biting and forest and coastal heathland, but it is also binding a S. mustelinus, although it was common in suburban gardens (Cogger, unclear whether the skink had been captured Figure 1. Redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) predation on a Weasel skink (Saproscincus mustelinus). Page 50 Herpetofauna 44 (1 & 2) 2014 HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 44-1.qxp_HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 35-1 23/5/17 4:38 PM Page 51 at the play centre, or earlier in the garage could use prey in contact with the ground to and relocated with the spider and the pram. overrun the web and potentially kill the spider. The predation event was recorded on an Certainly observations suggest that once a iPhone 4 camera phone (Figure 1). dropped prey item has been scavenged by ants the spider has little chance of recovering It is notable from the image that the spider is it and will seek to avoid contact with the ants biting near the head, the usual target area (Orange, 2007). (de Rebeira, 1981; Orange, 1989, 2007), and also that the tail has been elevated and A literature search revealed further accounts bound to the body. It may be the case that of small Australian reptiles being predated by elevation of prey items from the ground is L. hasselti (Table 1). Even snakes occasionally intended to avoid the attentions of ants, which become victims (Anonymous, 1939; Table 1: Australian records of lizards and snakes predated by Latrodectus hasselti. Taxon Location Source GEKKONIDAE Christinus marmoratus Perth, WA Konig, 1987 (as Phyllodactylus marmoratus) Christinus marmoratus (n=2) Hamersley, WA Orange, 2007 Gehyra variegata Kambalda East, WA Orange, 2007 SCINCIDAE Anomalopus verreauxii n/a Raven 1990 Cryptoblepharus pulcher n/a Cook, 1973 (as C. boutonii virgatus) Cryptoblepharus pulcher n/a Raven 1990 (as C. virgatus) (n=2) Hemiergis quadrilineata (n=3) Hamersley, WA Orange, 2007 Lampropholis delicata SW Sydney, NSW Metcalfe & Ridgeway, 2013 Lampropholis guichenoti Kangaroo Valley, NSW Copland, 1953 (as Leiolepisma guichenoti) "Lygosoma sp." Narrabeen, NSW McKeown, 1953 Saproscincus mustelinus Moorabbin, Vic. this paper unidentified skinks (n=2) n/a Roberts, 1941 unidentified skinks (n=2) n/a McKeown, 1952 ELAPIDAE Parasuta dwyeri Lockhart, NSW Durigo, 2010 Parasuta monachus Kambalda East, WA Orange, 1990 (as Rhinoplocephalus monachus) Parasuta nigriceps Gooroc, Vic. Malpass, 2015 Pseudonaja affinis (unsuccessful) Helena Valley, WA De Rebeira, 1987 "black snake" Roma, Qld McKeown, 1943 Herpetofauna 44 (1 & 2) 2014 Page 51 HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 44-1.qxp_HERPETOFAUNA TEXT 35-1 23/5/17 4:38 PM Page 52 McKeown, 1943; de Rebeira, 1981; Orange, By far the largest proportion of reptiles found 1990), although given the public shock value in the webs of L. hasselti are small lizards, of these encounters they are now more likely and they are probably more vulnerable to to be found on newspaper websites (Durigo, predation than snakes because, in addition to 2010; Malpass, 2015) than in peer-reviewed being smaller and more abundant, they are publications, and are therefore lacking in sci- often found in the same discrete, confined entific data. Attacks by female L. hasselti on corners of outbuildings, workshops, or the snakes are not always successful. A juvenile natural environment as L. hasselti. Most of dugite (Pseudonaja affinis) survived almost these reports concern skinks (McKeown, 7.5 hours of repeated attacks in a web before 1936; Roberts, 1941; McKeown, 1943, being removed, kept under observation for 1952; Copland, 1953; Cook, 1973; Raven, three days, and subsequently released (de 1990; Orange, 2007; Metcalfe & Ridgeway, Rebeira, 1981). 2013), with fewer instances of geckos as prey Table 2: Records of lizards and snakes predated by Latrodectus spp. outside of Australia. Taxon Latrodectus sp. Location