Deinopis spinosa, known generally as the ogrefaced spider or net-casting spider, is a species of ogrefaced spider in the family Deinopidae. It is found in the United States, St. Vincent, and Venezuela.[1][2][3][4] This spider is notable for its use of a net to catch prey. It does this by holding a small web stretched across its legs while it is suspended from a sparse web frame. When prey approaches the spider, it lunges forward and captures the insect in its net. In order to capture prey flying above it the spider uses a backward striking motion. When prey is outside its field of vision this spider appears to use a sensory organ located on its front legs to sense to prey. This sensory organ is known as the metatarsal organ. During the day, the spider is immobile and camouflages itself on its host palm plant. At night, the spider hunts.[5]

Deinopis spinosa
D. spinosa foraging at night
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Deinopidae
Genus: Deinopis
Species:
D. spinosa
Binomial name
Deinopis spinosa
Marx, 1889

References

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  1. ^ "Deinopis spinosa Report". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  2. ^ "Deinopis spinosa". GBIF. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  3. ^ "Deinopis spinosa". NMBE World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  4. ^ Stafstrom, Jay A.; Menda, Gil; Nitzany, Eyal I.; Hebets, Eileen A.; Hoy, Ronald R. (October 2020). "Ogre-Faced, Net-Casting Spiders Use Auditory Cues to Detect Airborne Prey". Current Biology. 30 (24): 5033–5039.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.048. ISSN 0960-9822. PMID 33125863.