Hyptiotes cavatus, the triangle weaver, is a species of cribellate orb weaver in the family of spiders known as Uloboridae.[1][2][3] It is found in the eastern United States and Canada.[1][2]
| Hyptiotes cavatus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Uloboridae |
| Genus: | Hyptiotes |
| Species: | H. cavatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Hyptiotes cavatus (Hentz, 1847)
| |
This spider makes use of its triangle-shaped web in a unique fashion compared to most orb-weaving spiders.[4] Using its body as a bridge between an anchor line and the main trap line of the web, it uses its legs to reel in the silk leading to the rest of the web to increase tension within the structure. It waits until prey makes contact with the web, then releases the held anchor line, causing the web (and the spider) to spring forwards 2-3 cm at high speed. This causes up to 4 additional web strands to touch the prey, and the sudden stop when the web reaches the end of its elasticity then winds the prey further into the strands. This process uses stored elastic potential in a manner similar to human tools like the slingshot or the bow and arrow.
Hyptiotes cavatus has only six functional eyes. The anterior lateral eyes (ALE) are extremely small and vestigial, with no retinas.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ a b "NMBE World Spider Catalog, Hyptiotes cavatus". Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ a b "Hyptiotes cavatus". GBIF. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ "Hyptiotes cavatus Species Information". BugGuide.net. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ Han, S. I.; Astley, H. C.; Maksuta, D. D.; Blackledge, T. A. (2019-05-13). "External power amplification drives prey capture in a spider web". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 116 (24): 12060–12065. doi:10.1073/pnas.1821419116. ISSN 0027-8424. PMC 6575565. PMID 31085643.
- ^ Opell, Brent D.; Ware, Amy D. (May 1987). "Changes in visual fields associated with web reduction in the spider family uloboridae". Journal of Morphology. 192 (2): 87–100. doi:10.1002/jmor.1051920202.
- ^ Opell, Brent D. (May 1988). "Ocular changes accompanying eye loss in the spider family uloboridae". Journal of Morphology. 196 (2): 119–126. doi:10.1002/jmor.1051960202.
External links
edit
Media related to Hyptiotes cavatus at Wikimedia Commons
