Tag

Spider

All articles tagged with #spider

Kittle defies injury to save wife from giant spider; PETA weighs in
sports5 days ago

Kittle defies injury to save wife from giant spider; PETA weighs in

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, still recovering from last season’s Achilles tear, sprang into action in the early hours to rescue his wife from a spider in their bathroom. He struck the arachnid on the first attempt and, after hugs and kisses for bravery, got back to rest. PETA responded, saying spiders deserve a good day and offering a humane bug catcher. With his injury sidelining him for now, Kittle remains focused on Week 1 prep.

Tiny Wall-Dwelling Spider Hunts Prey Six Times Its Size
science26 days ago

Tiny Wall-Dwelling Spider Hunts Prey Six Times Its Size

A newly identified spider species, Pikelinia floydmuraria, about 3–4 mm long, lives in urban wall crevices in southern Brazil and can capture prey up to six times its size, often near artificial lights that attract insects like mosquitoes and flies; described in Zoosystematics and Evolution, the discovery sheds light on the ecology of the Pikelinia genus, with DNA studies needed to clarify its evolutionary relationships.

Early Spider Designs Featured Tailed, Eight-Legged Creatures
science4 months ago

Early Spider Designs Featured Tailed, Eight-Legged Creatures

Scientists discovered a 100-million-year-old spider-like creature called Chimerarachne yingi with a tail, providing new insights into spider evolution. The fossil shows a mix of modern spider traits and unique features like a segmented abdomen and a whip-like tail, suggesting it was a close relative or early branch of true spiders, highlighting the mosaic nature of their evolutionary development.

Prehistoric Spider Larger Than Dinosaurs Discovered
science9 months ago

Prehistoric Spider Larger Than Dinosaurs Discovered

Scientists discovered a well-preserved fossil of a giant trapdoor spider, Megamonodontium mccluskyi, in Australia, dating back to the Miocene epoch. This extinct species, significantly larger than modern relatives, provides valuable insights into spider evolution and past rainforest ecosystems, highlighting how climate change has shaped biodiversity over millions of years.

Giant Dinosaur-Era Spider Fossil Discovered in Australia
science1 year ago

Giant Dinosaur-Era Spider Fossil Discovered in Australia

Scientists have discovered a fossilized giant trapdoor spider, named Megamonodontium mccluskyi, in New South Wales, Australia, marking only the fourth spider fossil found on the continent. This Miocene-era spider, five times larger than its modern relatives, provides insights into the region's past rainforest climate and the evolutionary history of spiders. The discovery, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, highlights the spider's significance as the first fossil of the Barychelidae family found worldwide, offering clues about past environmental conditions and potential climate change impacts.

Giant Dinosaur-Era Spider Fossil Discovered in Australia
science1 year ago

Giant Dinosaur-Era Spider Fossil Discovered in Australia

Scientists have discovered a fossilized giant trapdoor spider, named Megamonodontium mccluskyi, in New South Wales, Australia, which is five times larger than its modern relatives. This rare find, only the fourth spider fossil in Australia, provides insights into the evolutionary history and past climate of the region, indicating it was once a lush rainforest. The discovery, published in the Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, highlights the spider's significance as the first fossil of the Barychelidae family found worldwide.

"OSU Researcher Discovers Fossil of Shapeshifting Spider"
science2 years ago

"OSU Researcher Discovers Fossil of Shapeshifting Spider"

An Oregon State University researcher discovered a new species of ant-mimicking spider in a rare fossil from Colombia, estimated to be up to 3 million years old. The spider, resembling a jumping spider, was found entombed in copal resin. The researcher, George Poinar Jr., explained that spiders masquerade as ants to avoid predators, and the discovery sheds light on the evolutionary process of spiders adapting to mimic ants. The specimen, named Mymarcachne colombiana, highlights the widespread presence of masquerading spiders around the world.

"Male and Female Spiders Team Up to Perfectly Mimic Flower, Fooling Prey and Predators"
nature2 years ago

"Male and Female Spiders Team Up to Perfectly Mimic Flower, Fooling Prey and Predators"

Researchers in a tropical rainforest in China observed a male and female crab spider, Thomisus guangxicus, resembling a complete flower, potentially exhibiting cooperative mimicry. The larger female spider mimics the petals of the Hoya pandurata plant, while the male perched on top resembles the flower's pistils and stamens. This behavior may help them avoid predation and improve male survival during the mating process. The study suggests that this could be the first known case of cooperative mimicry in the world, providing insights into the remarkable mimicry and ambush skills of crab spiders.

"Rare Resin Fossil Reveals Spider Mimicking Ant Behavior"
paleontology2 years ago

"Rare Resin Fossil Reveals Spider Mimicking Ant Behavior"

Paleobiologist George Poinar Jr. has uncovered a rare find of a spider fossilized in resin, which he named Myrmarachne colombiana, that mimics the appearance of an ant. This discovery sheds light on the evolutionary strategy of certain spider species to deceive predators by resembling less desirable prey. The fossil, found in copal from Colombia, provides insight into the complex adaptations and behaviors of these ant-mimicking spiders, challenging previous notions about the origins of insect habits and suggesting a level of reasoning and intelligence in their mimicry.