Data from: Arthropods as vertebrate predators: a review of global patterns

Aim: Arthropods as vertebrate predators is generally overlooked in ecology
due to the cryptic nature of these events, the relatively small size of
arthropods, and the difficulty in finding published data. This study
represents the largest global assessment of arthropods preying on
vertebrates to provide a conceptual framework, identify global patterns,
and provide a searchable database. Location: Global. Time period: Present.
Major taxa studied: Arthropods and vertebrates. Methods: A systematic
literature review was conducted. Results: Nearly 1300 recorded
observations were collated from 89 countries. Arthropod predators were
from six classes and 80 families. Vertebrate prey were from five classes
and 162 families. Spiders represented over half of all predatory events
and were the main predator for all vertebrates except birds, which were
preyed mostly upon by praying mantises. Over a third of all prey were
amphibians, specifically frogs. Preyed reptiles were nearly all lizards,
half of mammal prey were bats, nearly a third of fish were Cypriniformes,
and half of bird prey were passerines. Predation by spiders were mainly
documented from the U.S., Brazil, and Australia, and biased everywhere
except the U.S.; insects were mainly from Europe, Australia, and the
Americas, and biased toward North America; Amphibian events were mainly
from the Americas and strongly biased everywhere, except for the U.S. and
Australia; reptiles were mostly from the Americas and Australia, and
biased towards the U.S. and Australia; birds were mainly from the
Americas, Australia, and Europe, and biased towards Central America and
Europe; mammals were mostly reported from North and Central America,
Australia, and Asia, and strongly biased everywhere except Brazil. Main
conclusions: This study demonstrates that arthropods are an underestimated
predator of vertebrates. Recognizing and quantifying these predator-prey
interactions is vital for identifying patterns and the potential impact of
these relationships on shaping vertebrate populations and communities.