An unusual predation scene was captured in Chapada dos Veadeiros, specifically on the bank of the Passador Waterfall, located in Cavalcante, in the state of Goiás. The footage shows a spider consuming a frog.
The video was produced by Ygor Santamaria Ferreira Souza, who was guiding a couple of tourists when the client noticed the arachnid with its prey. The guide returned to where they had left their backpacks, took out his cell phone, and recorded the moment.
The guide expressed his surprise when reporting: 'It was the first time I saw it. I was impressed because I always see this type of spider on riverbanks and had never witnessed a spider preying on an amphibian.'
Semi-aquatic Spider
According to spider specialist Vinicius Diniz, the animal shown in the video belongs to the genus Trechalea, which is part of the family Trechaleidae. This group is classified as semi-aquatic, encompassing spiders that can reach a large size and inhabit areas near rivers and streams.
Diniz details that these spiders' diet includes amphibians in general, showing a preference for tadpoles, in addition to aquatic macroinvertebrates, such as insect larvae, which make up their natural habitat. Despite this, observing one feeding on a toad or frog does not happen very often.
The specialist emphasizes that 'It is an animal that catches many creatures around there. It is a very clever hunter.' The family Trechaleidae comprises more than 130 cataloged species, distributed across 17 different genera. These spiders prefer to live in areas with running water and usually rest on the edges of rocks.