Final 12 months, we heard how anole lizards are in a position to breathe underwater from an air bubble on their nostril. One of many scientists concerned in that examine has now documented a spider doing one thing related – though the bubble covers its entire physique.
Recognized by the scientific identify of Trechalea extensa, the big semi-aquatic spider's pure habitat ranges from Mexico right down to Panama. And whereas it does enterprise to the water's floor when foraging for prey, it had beforehand not been recognized for diving, and positively not for utterly submerging itself.
That lately modified, nevertheless, when Binghamton College's Asst. Prof. Lindsey Swierk and colleagues noticed one of many land-living spiders fleeing from people by going underwater … and remaining there for over half-hour.
For that entire time, its physique was enveloped in a layer of air, which gave the impression to be held in place by a overlaying of hydrophobic (water-repelling) hairs. It is nonetheless not clear if the spider was really respiratory that air, however the movie definitely appeared to maintain the arachnid from drowning.
"The movie of air would possibly serve to maintain the respiratory openings away from water, since these spiders are air-breathing," stated Swierk. "The movie of air may also assist to attenuate thermal loss to the chilly stream water that the spider submerges itself in."
A paper on the analysis – which additionally concerned Macy Petrula from California State College Sacramento, and Patricia Esquete from Portugal's College of Aveiro – was lately revealed within the journal Ethology.
Supply: Binghamton College
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