Prey and Venom Ecacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae)

dc.creatorValenzuela-Rojas, Juan Carlos
dc.creatorGonz?lez G?mez, Julio C?sar
dc.creatorVan der Meijden, Arie
dc.creatorGuevara, Giovany
dc.creatorCort?s, Juan Nicol?s
dc.creatorFranco P?rez, Lida M.
dc.creatorPekar, Stano
dc.creatorGarc?a, Stano
dc.date2020-01-21T16:16:53Z
dc.date2020-01-21T16:16:53Z
dc.date2019-10-27
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-31T19:24:45Z
dc.date.available2023-08-31T19:24:45Z
dc.identifierValenzuela-Rojas, J.C.; Gonz?lez-G?mez, J.C.; van der Meijden, A.; Cort?s, J.N.; Guevara, G.; Franco, L.M.; Pek?r, S.; Garc?a, L.F. Prey and Venom Efficacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae). Toxins 2019, 11, 6
dc.identifier2072-6651
dc.identifierhttps://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/11/11/622
dc.identifier.urihttps://repositorioslatinoamericanos.uchile.cl/handle/2250/8558073
dc.descriptionSpiders rely on venom to catch prey and few species are even capable of capturing vertebrates. The majority of spiders are generalist predators, possessing complex venom, in which different toxins seem to target different types of prey. In this study, we focused on the trophic ecology and venom toxicity of Phoneutria boliviensis F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897, a Central American spider of medical importance. We tested the hypothesis that its venom is adapted to catch vertebrate prey by studying its trophic ecology and venom toxicity against selected vertebrate and invertebrate prey. We compared both trophic ecology (based on acceptance experiments) and toxicity (based on bioassays) among sexes of this species. We found that P. boliviensis accepted geckos, spiders, and cockroaches as prey, but rejected frogs. There was no difference in acceptance between males and females. The venom of P. boliviensis was far more efficient against vertebrate (geckos) than invertebrate (spiders) prey in both immobilization time and LD50. Surprisingly, venom of males was more efficient than that of females. Our results suggest that P. boliviensis has adapted its venom to catch vertebrates, which may explain its toxicity to humans. Key Contribution: Traditionally, the toxicity of medically significant spiders has been explained from a defensive perspective. Here, we offer a new perspective, by comparing prey capture and toxicity in males and females of the spider Phoneutria boliviensis against vertebrate and arthropod prey. We found that toxicity in P. boliviensis is higher against reptiles compared to arthropods, suggesting that high toxicity to humans is a side-effect of adaptation for the capture of vertebrate prey.
dc.descriptionUniversidad de Ibagu?
dc.languageen
dc.publisherToxins
dc.subjectVenom
dc.subjectToxins
dc.subjectLD50
dc.subjectTrophic niche
dc.subjectSexual dimorphism
dc.titlePrey and Venom Ecacy of Male and Female Wandering Spider, Phoneutria boliviensis (Araneae: Ctenidae)
dc.typeArticle


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