Unique web-spinning spider is treasure of the month in April

1 April 2017

Photo:

Photo: UHH/ CeNak

Our treasure of the month in April is the Katissa kurusiki, a species of Anyphaedidae (spiders) recently described for the first time at CeNak. The spider originates from the mist-enveloped forests of Ecuador and is distinguished by its unique worm-shaped abdomen.

Our treasure of the month in April is the Katissa kurusiki, a species of anyphaedidae (spiders) recently described for the first time at CeNak. The spider originates from the mist-enveloped forests of Ecuador and is distinguished by its unique worm-shaped abdomen. Scientists suspect that these spiders use their abdomens to mimic butterfly caterpillars and thus attract prey.

Read on in German . . .

Der wissenschaftliche Name ist der Kichwa Sprache der Ureinwohner entnommen: ‚kuru’ (Wurm) und ‚siki’ (Hinterleib). Dies ist einer der seltenen Fälle, in denen Webspinnen andere Tiere nachahmen, um Beute zu fangen.

Das Tier ist das bisher einzig bekannte seiner Art und wird in den Arachnologischen Sammlungen des CeNak hinterlegt.