Do Spiders Keep Frogs As Pets?

Spiders do not keep frogs as pets. But there are some reasons to believe that a frog may enjoy a symbiotic relationship with a spider.

The most frequently documented instances of spider predation on frogs are in Central and South American rain forests. These web-less hunters are members of the superfamilies Lycosoidea and Ctenoidea.

One such spider is the Columbian Lesserblack tarantula. This predatory spider shares habitat with a small Dotted Humming frog. They have a symbiotic relationship that benefits both species.

Researchers have found that spiders and humming frogs are not incompatible. Although a frog may not like being bitten by a tarantula, they can coexist and benefit from each other.

In the rainforests of Peru, scientists observed a humming frog and a tarantula sharing a burrow. Neither humming frogs nor tarantulas were attacked by each other. Rather, the humming frogs protected the tarantulas and their eggs.

Some species of microhylid frogs have also been spotted with spiders. Many of these species are tiny, growing to only a half-inch long. Their small size helps them survive in the environment.

A study published in 1986 concluded that a spider-frog symbiosis is mutualistic, meaning both animals benefit. However, a more comprehensive investigation of the relationship is needed.

Spider-frog relationships have been observed across the world. Scientists have found that frogs are eaten by a number of different types of spiders. It is possible that more species are on the list to be discovered in the future.