New Species Of Spider!!
The unusual specimen was found in China’s Yunnan rainforest back in January 2011, and appears to belong to a genus of orb web spider called Poltys. Yet unlike all other species belonging to this genus, the spider displayes expert camouflage, which Kuntner says probably helps it to avoid predators and sneak up on prey.
Several other insects, including grasshoppers and praying mantises, are known to disguise themselves as plants in order to confuse other animals, although this is the first time a leaf masquerade has been seen in an arachnid. Other than this specimen, there are only "a handful of spider genera with phenotypes that resemble flowers, dead twigs, plant detritus, buds, bark, or bird droppings," write the authors.
Several other insects, including grasshoppers and praying mantises, are known to disguise themselves as plants in order to confuse other animals, although this is the first time a leaf masquerade has been seen in an arachnid. Other than this specimen, there are only "a handful of spider genera with phenotypes that resemble flowers, dead twigs, plant detritus, buds, bark, or bird droppings," write the authors.
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