Why Do Spiders Pretend to Be Dead?
WouterSpiders can pretend to be dead in order to fool predators. They do this for many different reasons. Some species play dead for mating rituals and others play dead to attract females.
Some spiders may pretend to be dead for a few minutes or hours. When spiders play dead, they show a limp or splayed leg posture. They may also lose control of their bowels or bladder.
They can also pretend to be dead to get rid of stress. They do this when they are threatened by predators. Then they will jump back to normal once the threat is gone. It is a common anti-predator tactic.
Another reason is to prevent cannibalism. Male wolf spiders play dead to avoid a meal from the female. It is believed that this tactic evolved to protect them from predators.
When a predator attacks, spiders will curl their feet under their bodies. They then flex their legs in order to keep warm. Then they can change their shape into a ball. This is known as thanatosis.
Arachnologists have found that spiders can learn to hide in areas of death. This will help them in future generations. However, the practice is not always successful.
Some arachnologists have the theory that when spiders play dead, they will be more attractive to other spiders. This is because a spider may be weakened or dehydrated. When it is dehydrated, its fluid pressure will decrease. This can lead to rigor mortis.
