Predation of Oxyrhopus guibei Hoge & Romano, 1977 by Nephilingis cruentata (Fabricius, 1775), an invasive African spider in Brazil

Natural history records are essential for understanding ecological interactions and biodiversity, particularly in the context of invasive species and their potential impacts. In Brazil, Nephilingis cruentata is an established invasive species with predominantly urban and periurban habits whose diet consists mainly of invertebrates, although occasional records of vertebrate prey exist. Here, we report the first record of Oxyrhopus guibei being preyed upon by N. cruentata and the first record of snake predation by this spider species. The event was documented in southeastern Brazil, where an adult female spider captured a juvenile snake in its web. Morphometric data obtained from both specimens indicate that, although uncommon, N. cruentata is capable of subduing relatively large vertebrate prey. This record expands current knowledge of the natural history of both species and highlights the importance of documenting the feeding habits of invasive organisms and their potential impacts on local biodiversity.