First predation report of Gecarcinus quadratus (Brachyura: Gecarcinidae) by Ancylometes bogotensis (Arachnida: Ctenidae) in Coiba Island, Panama

Abstract

Spiders are nearly omnipresent in tropical regions, throughout a vast range of habitats, where they act as top predators of other invertebrates. On islands, spiders may assume the role of larger mainland predators in regulating invertebrate populations. This study documents a novel predator-prey interaction between the wandering spider Ancylometes bogotensis and the land crab Gecarcinus quadratus on Coiba Island Panama Pacific. We briefly discuss the ecological implications of this predator-prey relationship and the potential influence of marine subsidies on the island’s terrestrial ecosystem.