It might be a completely new species--a very tricky new species.
Posted 12.18.2012 at 5:05 pm
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A Fake Spider Built By A Real One
Phil Torres
Don't be fooled: this isn't a real spider. It's a fabrication! A lie! It's a decoy spider built from twigs, leaves, debris, dead insects, and whatever stuff nightmares are made of.
Researchers discovered the insect in (where else?) the Peruvian Amazon, and even though its decoy looks like a medium-sized spider that's about an inch across, the impressive fake was actually made by a tiny, tricky 5-millimeter spider. That spider behind the curtain is probably, the researchers say, a new species of Cyclosa, a genus known to pull similar stunts. But those creations are relatively un-spider-like--nothing at this level of detail. The smaller builder-insect even moves back and forth, giving the impression that the decoy insect is moving and, in the process, confusing predators into attacking the decoy instead.
Now the researchers, who found the spider near the Tambopata Research Center, will go through the process of making sure it's really a new species: checking it against other species, dissecting it, publishing the find in a journal, etc. Its artwork probably won't get the same treatment.
[Peru Nature via The Verge]
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At least we aren't all oooo and aaaa about a potato, scrabble egg, burnt toast that looks like a religious figure... LOL.
Does this mean the spider is self aware? Interesting.
Look guys he's just trying to prove he's more intelligent by building robots.
"God exists since mathematics is consistent, and the Devil exists since we cannot prove it is."
a spider is an arachnid, not an insect, as you suggest in your article. I could go on, but rather I hope you take some time to look up the differences and educate yourself.
the fact that the fake it built has 8 legs is pretty cool... Spiders can count?
@alsgillespie Spider-man deals with this misnomer on a regular basis. But seriously, popsci need to hire a scientist to proof their articles.
I'm with Jackson and Kamus. This is actually amazing.
I find this design as it is aligned to the winter spider solstice on December 21, 2012 is pointing to a certain spider constilation, very fasinating!
It does seem to imply that, both, the spider is self aware and can count, yes.
Don't underestimate the true intelligence of other species just because most humans are dumber than bricks ;)
does anyone else see a head with two eyes a nose and smile? The spider it trying to tell the scientists he saw Slenderman skinny-dipping!
"God exists since mathematics is consistent, and the Devil exists since we cannot prove it is."