Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata

Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Microhylidae
Genus: Chiasmocleis
Species: C. ventrimaculata
Binomial name
Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata
(Andersson, 1945)
Common name: Dotted humming frog[1]

Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata is a species of frog in the Microhylidae family.[2] It is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, swamps, and intermittent freshwater marshes.

The frog is known to have a mutualistic relationship with the burrowing tarantula Xenesthis immanis.[3] The tarantula provides the frog protection from predators and a food source from insects feeding on the remains of its prey. The frog's foraging protects the tarantula's eggs from ants.[4]

This commensalism between microhylids and large spiders is common and occurs in various parts of the world. [5]

References

  1. ↑ "Tiny frogs and giant spiders: the best of friends : Tetrapod Zoology". Scienceblogs.com. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
  2. ↑ Coloma, L.A., Ron, S., Monteza, J.I., Angulo, A., Jungfer, K.-H., Castro, F., Rueda, J.V., Reichle, S., De la Riva, I. & Gascon, C. 2004. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/57764/all 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata (Accessed: March 23, 2012).
  3. ↑ Crocroft, Reginald B.; Hambler, Keith (1989). "Observations on a commensal relationship of the microhylid frog Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata and the burrowing theraphosid spider Xenesthis immanis in southeastern Peru". Biotropica 21 (1): 2–8. doi:10.2307/2388434.
  4. ↑ Naish, Darren . Tiny frogs and giant spiders: the best of friends. Tetrapod Zoology (Posted: July 3, 2009)
  5. ↑ "Tiny frogs and giant spiders: the best of friends"

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