Biomoléculas na pele da rã Lithodytes lineatus (Anura: Leptodactylidae) mediam a coexistência com formigas cortadeiras do gênero Atta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Abstract

Chemically-based mimicry and camouflage is known to be employed by invertebrate parasites of social insect colonies, but the use of this strategy by vertebrates to avoid detection by social insects has received less attention. Here we examine the hypothesis that the frog Lithodytes lineatus has skin-chemicals that imitate chemical- recognition used by the leaf-cutting Atta ants. We show that individuals of Lithodytes lineatus never suffered attack by the leaf-cutting Atta ants, while 100% of four other species of anurans were attacked. In addition, none of the 10 individuals of the frog Rhinella major coated with skin extracts of the frog L. lineatus suffered attack, whereas controls (coated with ultrapure water) were attacked on each occasion. We have demonstrated that the skin of the frog Lithodytes lineatus has chemicals that prevent attack by both species of leaf-cutting ants, Atta laevigata and Atta sexdens.