this post was submitted on 17 Mar 2024
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So it looks like the frogs mentioned in this meme are microhylids, and for some further info:
This is also super cute behaviour:
Apparently the spiders’ protectiveness can also be pretty overt:
And some ideas on why this might be an example of mutualistic behaviour rather than commensalism:
Source: https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/tetrapod-zoology/tiny-frogs-and-giant-spiders-best-of-friends/
I'm imagining the scene from Step Brothers:
Spider: Can you eat the ants but not my eggs?
Frog: YUP! Can you protect me from other things that want to eat me?
Spider: YUP! Did we just become best friends?!
Frog: YUP!
Spiders grabbing frogs and releasing them is like humans grabbing their cats and going for snuggles
Imagine being that poor bull frog. "Hey buddy, put on this tiny frog-shaped skin suit. We're gonna drop you in a pit with tarantulas and see if they eat you. We think they won't, on account of the skin suit you see, but, you know, science"
"Yes, we'll drop you into a pit with a gigantic predator on whose menu you usually take the top spot, BUT it might just be fine, since we'll wrap you in the remains of another frog we flayed so that you can wear its skin."
Spiders more civilized than some of my coworkers
My coworkers also always eat any frog I place between their mandibles.
I was worried that the spider ends up eating the frog but they're actually buddies!
That is too fucking adorable
Thank you for this high effort reply. Super interesting and cool to learn about!