Tiny Amazon spider observed building bigger spiders as decoys

[Saint in Paradise]

Tiny 5mm spider builds a 2.5cm, articulated fake arachnid

Spider pulls the strings to make the puppet seem alive

So far only seen in a tiny area of the Amazon in Peru

 

IS this the world's tiniest puppeteer? An Amazon spider has been caught pulling the strings behind intricately built arachnid decoys.

 

Biologist and science educator Phil Torres says the artful arachnid is the first discovered that builds "replica" spiders with eight legs.

 

Mr Torres has recorded the spiders amazing work in a blog for ecological tourism firm Rainforest Expeditions which operates a combined lodge and research centre in the Tambopata national park in Peru.

 

"It (first appeared) to be a medium sized spider about an inch across, possibly dead and dried out, hanging in the centre of a spider web along the side of the trail. Nothing too out of the ordinary for the Amazon," he said.

 

"As you approach, the spider starts to wobble quickly forward and back, letting you know this spider is, in fact, alive."

 

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/tiny-amazon-spider-observed-building-bigger-spiders-as-decoys/story-e6frep26-1226540217776

 

Amazing creatures