Forget silk parachutes: some tropical spiders are master mid-air pilots
In short: While most spiders rely on silk draglines for safety, a newly discovered group of jungle arachnids performs virtuoso dives without any webbing at all. These flat, camouflalged predators use precise leg movements to steer themselves through the air, navigating between tree trunks with unexpected agility.
Research headed by University of Louisville tropical arthropod ecologist Stephen Yanoviak, appearing in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface on August 19, showed that specific spiders are capable of aerial gliding. Unlike many insects that use wings, these spiders have no history of flight. Instead, they utilize their unique body shape to perform controlled aerial descents, a behavior Yanoviak noted was entirely unexpected.
The subjects of the study are known as "flatties," large arachnids found in the tropical forests of Panama and Peru. Despite being able to span the width of a soup can lid, these spiders are incredibly thin—some no thicker than a nickel. To test their abilities, the team dropped the spiders from heights of 65 to 80 feet (20 to 25 meters). The results showed the spiders could turn themselves upright in milliseconds and glide toward tree trunks.
The mechanism of their navigation remains a point of scientific nuance. Observations suggest the spiders may steer by adjusting the angle of their outstretched forelegs; for example, changing the right front leg to turn left. While Yanoviak cautioned that it is not yet certain if leg movements are the definitive steering force, the spiders' extreme flatness likely aids their gliding. This evolutionary trait may keep them safely in the tree canopy, away from the dangerous, predator-filled forest floor.
This discovery challenges the traditional view that spiders are purely dependent on silk for stability. Behavioural ecologist Marie Herberstein observes that most spiders use dragline silk for protection, yet flatties possess precise, unassisted gliding skills comparable to various insects encountered in flight.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Flying Spiders! | Animal Einsteins | BBC Earth
- Also: Flying Spiders Found—and They Can Steer in Mid-Air
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/nature-flying-spiders-animal-einsteins-bbc-earth.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Animal behaviour · More in Nature · Latest · A–Z · All topics
