MSGID: 1:317/3 6279ea7f   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    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   
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   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.   
      
      
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   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."   
      
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   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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