Mutualism in Ramanella nagaoi Manamendra-Arachchi & Pethiyagoda, 2001 (Amphibia: Microhylidae) and Poecillotheria species (Aracnida: Thereposidae) from Sri Lanka

Abstract

Ramanella nagaoi is an endemic and vulnerable species of Family Microhylidae distributed in lowland wet zone rain forests and reproduce and live in and around tree hollows. This article presents some aspects of mutualism of R. nagaoi with Poecilotheria ornata and P. (cf.) subfusca thereposid spiders in random field visits during the past seven years. This is the first observation of this symbiotic behaviour. Key words: Ramanella nagaoi ; Poecilotheria ; commensalism; inter-specific association; symbiotic relationship; Sri Lanka DOI: 10.4038/tapro.v1i1.2772 TAPROBANICA, April, 2009. Vol. 01, No. 01: pp. 16-18