PREDATION OF A YELLOW-HEADED GECKO (Gonatodes albogularis) BY A BROMELIAD SPIDER Cupennius coccineus

Abstract

Lizard diversity in the Neotropics is notably high, they participate in several ecological interactions and are relevant food web components in many of the environments where they occur. Sphaerodactylidae is a highly diverse family of small, day-active geckos, with six species in Costa Rica, including the Yellow-headed Gecko Gonatodes albogularis. Large-bodied spiders such as some Trechaleidae are capable of predate on lizards, such as the Bromeliad Spider Cupiennius coccineus. This spider does not construct webs but ambush and capture prey directly from the surface of leaves and other plant parts they use to send and receive vibrations. We report the case of a Yellow-headed Gecko predated by a Bromelid Spider as the first report on this trophic interaction at the Tropical Wet Forest of northern Costa Rica.