So it looks like the frogs mentioned in this meme are microhylids, and for some further info:
Crocraft & Hambler (1989) noted that the frog seemed to benefit from living in proximity to the spider by eating the small invertebrates that were attracted to prey remains left by the spider. The frog presumably also benefits by receiving protection: small frogs like this are preyed on by snakes and large arthropods, yet on this occasion we have a frog that receives a sort of ‘protection’ from a large, formidable spider bodyguard. Hunt (1980) suggested that the spider might gain benefit from the presence of the frog: microhylids specialise on eating ants, and ants are one of the major predators of spider eggs. By eating ants, the microhylids might help protect the spider’s eggs.
This is also super cute behaviour:
Young spiders have sometimes been observed to grab the frogs, examine them with their mouthparts, and then release them unharmed.
Apparently the spiders’ protectiveness can also be pretty overt:
Karunarathna & Amarasinghe (2009) reported how several Poecilotheria were seen attacking individuals of Hemidactylus depressus (a gecko) after the latter tried eating the eggs of the frogs the spiders were sharing their tree holes with.
And some ideas on why this might be an example of mutualistic behaviour rather than commensalism:
…the spider seems to benefit in that the frogs eat the ants that might ordinarily attack the spider’s eggs. Due to their small size, ants are presumably difficult for the spiders to deal with, and they might be effectively helpless against them.
Csakany placed skin from humming frogs onto the body of a frog that does not seem to have any special relationship with tarantulas and is ordinarily eaten by them (the Lowland tropical bullfrog Leptodactylus andreae, a leptodactylid. Csakany used one of its synonyms: Adenomera andreai [sic]). After grabbing the skin-wearing Leptodactylus specimens, the spiders examined them, and released them unharmed. Again, this supports the hypothesis that the tarantulas recognise ‘partner’ frogs after receiving certain chemical signals.
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.”
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!