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Why do happy face spiders have a happy face?
Theridion grallator, also known as the Hawaiian happy face spider, lives only in rainforests on the Hawaiian islands. Its ‘happy face’ is made from spots on its back that are believed to serve to help them deter predators, either by confusing them or camouflaging.
Is the happy face spider native to Hawaii?
The happy-face spider is endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago but is only found on four of the islands: Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii. The spider populations on these four islands show off a variety of happy-face patterns.
What kind of spider has a face on its body?
Spiders known as the orb web spiders have a specific species that are called the Araneus mitificus, more commonly known as the kidney garden spider or pale orb weaver, these spiders are known to have markings on their backs that resemble human faces.
What does a happy face spider eat?
Happy face spiders eat small insects such as fruit flies and young grasshoppers. They actively hunt for their prey, rather than waiting for it to stumble into a web. Happy face spiders hide on the undersides of leaves during the day and hunt at night.
Do spiders laugh?
Yes, they can!
What kind of spider has a smiley face?
The Happy Face is a species of spider endemic to only a few islands of the Hawaiian archipelago. Certain morphs of these spiders have a pattern that resembles a smiley face or a grinning face of a clown on their abdomen. Interestingly, each spider has a unique pattern, with the patterns differing from island to island.
Where can you find the Happy Face Spider?
The happy-face spiders. The happy-face spider is endemic to the Hawaiian archipelago but is only found on four of the islands: Oahu, Molokai, Maui, and Hawaii.
What makes a spider have a yellow face?
However, the yellow morph is not alone in the forests, and spiders with different color patterns in many forms of smiles (and frowns) can be found with little effort. These different morphs are caused by the different gene versions carried by the spiders.
How did the Hawaiian Happy Face Spider get its name?
Theridion grallator, also known as the Hawaiian happy-face spider, is a spider in the family Theridiidae. Its Hawaiian name is nananana makakiʻi (face-patterned spider). The specific epithet grallator is Latin for ” stilt walker “, a reference to the species’ long, spindly legs.