Diving Bell Spider (argyroneta Aquatica) #2
by Dennis Kunkel Microscopy/science Photo Library
Title
Diving Bell Spider (argyroneta Aquatica) #2
Artist
Dennis Kunkel Microscopy/science Photo Library
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of diving bell spider abdomen (Argyroneta aquatica). Also known as the water spider, this is the only arachnid species to live entirely underwater. In order to breathe underwater the spider traps a bubble of air near its abdomen. It first spins a dome-shaped, silk web amongst underwater plants. Then the spider comes to the surface and traps air bubbles between its abdomen (and legs).The abdomen has special feathered hairs or setae (shown here) that help hold the bubble(s) near its body. It carries the bubble(s) back to the silk web where a large bubble forms. The spider lives within the air bell and darts out to catch prey, mate and lay eggs. Recently researchers have found that the bubble acts like a gill, extracting dissolved oxygen from the water and dispersing carbon dioxide. Thus the diving bell spider only has to surface once a day to replenish the air. Magnification: x13 when shortest axis printed at 25 millimetres.
Uploaded
September 20th, 2018
Embed
Share
Comments
There are no comments for Diving Bell Spider (argyroneta Aquatica) #2. Click here to post the first comment.