Book On Large Telescopes

WATER SPIDER ( Aegyroneta aquatica)

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Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Arachnida

Order: Araneae Family
: Argyronetidae
Genre: Argyroneta
Measures: length female: 8-15 mm (2 ) Male Length: 9-12 mm (2)
E 'is the only species in the world that manages to spend most of his life underwater. Although his body has developed a number of adaptations for this style of aquatic life. The abdomen and legs are densely covered with short hairs that trap air when the spider is submerged. This is one of the few species of spiders in which males tend to be larger than females . Although this species has been placed in a separate family, known as
Argyronetidae , recent scientific studies carried out by analysis of fossil spiders suggest that it should be placed in Cybaeidae family.
The aegyroneta aquatica is found throughout Britain. His presence is very strong throughout northern and central Europe, Siberia and Northern Asia.

Biology
The spider is able to build a real canvas diving bell-shaped, inside which transports and trap air bubbles in water flow using the hair of the back; thus ends to create a habitat with positive air to live. It is the only species found to date are able to live completely submerged in fresh water. Males tend to be more active in Unlike the females which in contrast, spend most of their time inside the bell and air catturarando prey that is too avvicianano their refuge. The species that are prey are typically small aquatic invertebrates. The males mate with females after the construction of an air bell next to that of the female, creating a veritable tunnel that connects the bell with that of their partner. The female spins a cocoon around the eggs at the top of his bubble. The young are born after a couple of weeks. Before hibernation, the spiders of water containing air seal their bell. Through the following link you will see two videos that reflect the spider in a few moments of his life, the movies are from the ARKive site visit it, is filled with lots of information about many species.

http://www.arkive.org/water-spider/argyroneta-aquatica/video-03.html


http://www.arkive.org/water-spider/argyroneta-aquatica/video
-12.html