Predation of the Common Lancehead, Bothrops atrox (Linnaeus, 1758), by the tarantula Acanthoscurria geniculata in the Brazilian Amazon

 

Predation of the Common Lancehead, Bothrops atrox (Linnaeus, 1758), by the tarantula Acanthoscurria geniculata in the Brazilian Amazon

On 3 February 2022 an adult female A. geniculata (total length ca. 15 cm) was observed preying on a juvenile Common Lancehead, Bothrops atrox (SVL ca. 50 cm) in a private property, in the rural area of Juruti Municipality, western Pará State, in the central Brazilian Amazon (2.3457°S, 56.0485°W, WGS84; elevation 84 m). Predation occurred at ground level around 08:30 h, at a distance of ca. 30 cm from the entrance of the spider’s burrow, when the tarantula was seen attacking the snake (Fig. 1).

Cunha, Fabio Andrew G., Brescovit, Antonio D., Costa-Campos, Carlos E. "Predation of the Common Lancehead, Bothrops Atrox (Linnaeus, 1758), by the Tarantula Acanthoscurria Geniculata in the Brazilian Amazon." Herpetology Notes 17, (2024). Accessed February 21, 2024. https://www.biotaxa.org/hn/article/view/82399.