Spiders Will Hunt in Groups and Share Meals if They Have Enlarged Brain Structures– www.discovermagazine.com
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Excerpt:
Most spiders are known for being loners that keep to themselves. But in rare instances, some close-knit spider communities rely on strength in numbers. From a young age, the spiders in these groups show selfless behaviors such as joining forces on hunts or sharing meals with one another.
A new study published in Integrative Zoology suggests that these spiders get along so well partly because of what’s inside of their brains. Researchers found that certain brain regions of social huntsman spiders and social crab spiders — both of which live in groups — display slight variations compared to spiders that live alone. The distinct structure of these regions may be the reason why some spiders develop strong social skills while others have a preference for privacy.
If you ever find yourself peeling back the bark of a eucalyptus tree or a dead acacia tree in Australia, you could be in for a surprise that’ll make you jump out of your shoes. Chances are, you’ll come across a hidden conclave of social huntsman spiders, which live in groups containing potentially hundreds of individuals.
Not all spiders have grand get-togethers like this. In fact, the behavior is extremely rare among spider species — only 0.1 percent of the world’s 53,000 spider species live in groups.
Most spiders are territorial and become aggressive toward others of their kind, even resorting to cannibalism at times. Social spiders, on the other hand, usually get along well with their kin.
