How Do Spiders Use Echolocation?
WouterThere are many species of spiders. They make webs to catch and trap their prey. The types of silk the spiders use can affect the properties of the web. They also have sensitive organs on their legs that detect vibrations in the air. They can also change the tension of the silk and alter the shape of the web.
One of the main predators of spiders is the ogre-faced spider. These spiders have enormous eyes. Their large eyes help them to see better at night. They hang from threads and then flip backwards to capture airborne prey in their sticky net.
Ogre-faced spiders have very sensitive vibration receptors on their leg. This allows them to hear sounds from up to six feet away. This helps them to detect low-frequency insect wingbeats. They can also hear high-frequency chirps of birds.
In addition to their amazing hearing, ogre-faced spiders are able to see 2,000 times better than humans at night. Researchers are trying to find out how the ogre-faced spiders evolved to be able to hear so well.
Ogre-faced spiders can hear sounds as far as 6 feet away. They can also detect the chirps of birds, and even the high-pitched calls of bats. They are so good at echolocation that they have become experts at using this technique to navigate through the dark.
There are other animals that echolocate, too. For example, some birds, hedgehogs, and toothed cetaceans use the technology to locate objects. Some nocturnal shrews even use ultrasonic squeaks to guide their way around.
