Spider can hide underwater for 30 minutes

Date:
May 9, 2022
Source:
Binghamton University
Summary:
A tropical spider species uses a 'film' of air to hide underwater
from predators for as long as 30 minutes, according to new research.



FULL STORY ==========================================================================
A tropical spider species uses a "film" of air to hide underwater from predators for as long as 30 minutes, according to faculty at Binghamton University, State University of New York.


========================================================================== Lindsey Swierk, assistant research professor of biological sciences
at Binghamton University, State University of New York, observed a
large tropical spider (Trechalea extensa) fleeing from humans and
hiding underwater; this species was not previously known to use water
to escape. Swierk had previously observed a Costa-Rican lizard species
that was able to stay underwater for 16 minutes to hide from predators.

"For a lot of species, getting wet and cold is almost as risky to survival
as dealing with their predators to begin with," said Swierk. "Trechalea
spiders weren't previously known to hide underwater from threats --
and certainly not for so long." The spider spent about 30 minutes
underwater. While submerged, it kept a "film" of air over its entire
body. Swierk and her colleagues suspect that the fuzzy hairs that cover
its body help it to maintain this film of air, which helps to prevent
thermal loss while underwater, or to prevent water from entering the
spider's respiratory organs.

The film of air surrounding the spider when it is underwater appears
to be held in place by hydrophobic hairs covering the spider's entire
body surface," said Swierk. "It's so complete that the spider almost
looks like it's been dipped in silver. The film of air might serve to
keep the respiratory openings away from water, since these spiders are air-breathing. The film of air might also help to minimize thermal
loss to the cold stream water that the spider submerges itself in."
According to Swierk, this observation provides new insight into how
species can cope with the problem of finding refuge underwater.

These spiders, and any animal hiding from predators in general, have to
do their best to manage risk," said Swierk. "Risk of predation, yes, but
also risk of the costs they'll experience by fleeing. For some species
that means leaving territory or mates unguarded, or maybe spending stored energy in a sprint. In this species, potential risks of underwater refuge
use can include lack of respiration and a loss of body heat. There are
many more questions to dig into starting from this first observation."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Binghamton_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Lindsey Swierk, Macy Petrula, Patricia Esquete. Diving behavior in a
Neotropical spider ( Trechalea extensa ) as a potential antipredator
tactic. Ethology, 2022; 128 (6): 508 DOI: 10.1111/eth.13281 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/05/220509132627.htm

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