Theridion grallator
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Theridion grallator |
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| Simon , 1900 |
Theridion grallator is a species of spider in the genus Theridion that is found exclusively in Hawaii . The underside is light yellow and somewhat transparent. Depending on the food consumed, it can be red, black and white in color. The pattern is similar to a smiling face. Therefore the common English name is also "happy face spider". This polymorphism couldcounteractthe applicability oftheir hunters' prey schemes .
The females live as solitary animals under leaves in forests. They defend their egg balls aggressively and look after the brood for a while after they hatch. It can happen that some young animals of the brood are taken in by foster mothers.
Web links
Commons : Theridion grallator - collection of images, videos and audio files
Theridion grallator in the World Spider Catalog
Individual evidence
- ^ Rosemary G. Gillespie: Diet-Induced Color Change in the Hawaiian Happy-Face Spider Theridion grallator (Araneae, Theridiidae). In: Journal of Arachnology 17, No. 2/1989, pp. 171-177.
- ^ Rosemary G. Gillespie, Geoffrey S. Oxford: Selection on the Color Polymorphism in Hawaiian Happy-Face Spiders: Evidence from Genetic Structure and Temporal Fluctuations . In: Evolution 52, No. 3/1998, pp. 775-783
- ↑ Rosemary G. Gillespie: Costs and Benefits of Brood Care in the Hawaiian Happy Face Spider Theridion grallator (Araneae, Theridiidae) . In: American Midland Naturalist 123, No. 2/1990, pp. 236-243