The Spider That Mimics…Bird Crap

srep05058-f1

[M]any insects and spiders, as well as vertebrates like frogs, have evolved to resemble bird droppings, hiding themselves from predators. [T]his has happened in the spider Cyclosa ginnaga from East Asia.

[T]his spider weaves decorations into its web that look like droppings, but some spiders of this genus have also evolved to look like droppings. When a spider sits in its decoration, the combination looks remarkably like a bird dropping, thereby avoiding attention from predators.

Via Why Evolution is True.

This entry was posted in Messed Up, Science by . Bookmark the permalink.

About

I design video games for a living, write fiction, political theory and poetry for personal amusement, and train regularly in Western European 16th century swordwork. On frequent occasion I have been known to hunt for and explore abandoned graveyards, train tunnels and other interesting places wherever I may find them, but there is absolutely no truth to the rumor that I am preparing to set off a zombie apocalypse. Nothing that will stand up in court, at least. I use paranthesis with distressing frequency, have a deep passion for history, anthropology and sociological theory, and really, really, really hate mayonnaise. But I wash my hands after the writing. Promise.

Leave a Reply