Predation on the gecko phyllodactylus gerrhopygus (Wiegmann) (squamata: Gekkonidae) by the six-eyed sand spider sicarius thomisoides (walckenaer) (araneae: Sicariidae) [Depredación sobre el geco phyllodactylus gerrhopygus (Wiegmann) (squamata: gekkonidae) por la araña de arena de seis ojos sicarius thomisoides (walckenaer) (araneae: sicariidae)]

Abstract

During the evening of January 9th, 2020, an adult female of Sicarius thomisoides was found under a rock feeding on a gecko Phyllodactylus gerrhopygus. The observation was made at Mamiña, Tamarugal province in northern Chile. This find is the first documented case of a sicariid preying on a vertebrate. Specifically, this event corresponds to a particular case of intraguild predation, since these species are insectivorous and use similar microhabitats in northern Chile. © 2020, Sociedad Entomologica Argentina. All rights reserved.