Xenesthis immanis

Colombian lesser black tarantula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Theraphosidae
Genus: Xenesthis
Species:
X. immanis
Binomial name
Xenesthis immanis
(Ausserer, 1875)
Synonyms[1]

Lasiodora immanis Ausserer, 1875

Xenesthis immanis, the Colombian lesser black tarantula,[2] is a terrestrial bird spider (tarantula) found in Colombia, Venezuela, and Peru.[1][3] It is a relatively large spider with a body length reaching 6–7 cm and a length width reaching 19–22 cm. It frequently displays a commensal or mutualistic relationship with the microhylid frog Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata.[3] The relationship described is one where the spider may protect the frog and its eggs from predators while the frog protects the spider's eggs from ants. It has also been observed closely associating with Hamptophryne boliviana, another microhylid.[4]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Xenesthis immanis.
  1. ^ a b "Xenesthis immanis (Ausserer, 1875)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2024.
  2. ^ Common Names of Arachnids, American Arachnological Society (2003)
  3. ^ a b Cocroft, Reginald B.; Hambler, Keith (1989). "Observations on a commensal relationship of the microhylid frog Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata and the burrowing theraphosid spider Xenesthis immanis in Southeastern Peru". Biotropica. 21 (1): 2–8. Bibcode:1989Biotr..21....2C. doi:10.2307/2388434. JSTOR 2388434.
  4. ^ Naish, Darren. "Tiny Frogs and Giant Spiders: Best of Friends". Scientific American Blog Network. Retrieved 2020-05-02.


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