Carrai cave spider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Carrai cave spider |
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The Carrai cave spider, also known by its scientific name Progradungula carraiensis, is a very special type of spider. It lives only in the damp forests and limestone caves of the Carrai Plateau in northern New South Wales, Australia. This spider is one of only two species in its unique group, called the gradungulid genus Progradungula.
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Discovering the Carrai Cave Spider
The Carrai cave spider was first officially described in 1979 by two scientists, Raymond Robert Forster and Michael R. Gray. They gave it the name Progradungula carraiensis. The "carraiensis" part of its name comes from the Carrai Plateau where it lives.
What Makes Them Special?
Carrai cave spiders are known for a special way they spin their webs. They use a unique type of silk called cribellate silk. This silk is very fine and fuzzy, almost like Velcro. It helps them trap insects without using sticky glue.
What Do They Look Like?
These spiders are not very big. They usually grow to be about 8 to 12 millimeters long. That's about the size of a small button. They have long, thin legs that help them move around their cave homes.
Where Do Carrai Cave Spiders Live?
The Carrai cave spider is found only in a specific area of Australia. This area is the Carrai Plateau, which is known for its moist forests and many limestone caves. These caves provide the perfect cool and damp environment for the spiders to thrive.
Inside Their Home
Inside the caves, these spiders often live near areas where bats live. This is because their favorite food source is found there. The caves offer a safe and stable home away from predators and harsh weather.
What Do Carrai Cave Spiders Eat?
Carrai cave spiders are expert hunters. They specialize in eating insects that feed on bat guano. Bat guano is the droppings of bats. It is a rich source of food for many small insects in the caves.
How They Catch Their Food
To catch their prey, Carrai cave spiders build a very clever web.
- First, they create an upper network of threads. These threads are attached to the rock walls of the cave.
- This network supports a small platform. This platform is made of their special cribellate silk. It's usually about 25 millimeters long and 6 millimeters wide.
- The spider then waits on this platform, hanging head down.
- It extends its front legs, which have special enlarged claws. These claws are just above the ground.
- When an insect comes close, the spider quickly scoops its prey into the web. The fuzzy silk then wraps tightly around the insect, trapping it.
