Saturday, August 16, 2014

Creature Feature #301: Happy Face Spider

The tiny Happy Face Spider lives only on the Hawaiian islands. She is named for her characteristic abdomen which, in some individuals, resembles a happy face. In others it can be frowning, or somewhat more abstract. This patterning varies across the islands. Measuring a mere 5 mm, her life is mostly spend beneath the foliage in the rainforests. Here she builds a somewhat reduced web than other spiders, feeding on small insects. Unlike most spider species, she exhibits strong maternal care. Not only does she guard her egg sac, but when the spiderlings hatch she will catch insects for them to feed upon.

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