A MATHEMATICAL SPIDER LIVING ON GRAVEL PLAINS OF THE NAMIB DESERT

Authors
COSTA G PETRALIA A CONTI E HANEL C
Citation
G. Costa et al., A MATHEMATICAL SPIDER LIVING ON GRAVEL PLAINS OF THE NAMIB DESERT, Journal of arid environments, 29(4), 1995, pp. 485-494
Citations number
12
Categorie Soggetti
Environmental Sciences",Ecology
Journal title
Journal of arid environments → ACNP
ISSN journal
01401963
Volume
29
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
485 - 494
Database
ISI
SICI code
0140-1963(1995)29:4<485:AMSLOG>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
In certain areas of the Namib gravel plains a new Ariadna sp. was disc overed. It rims its vertical burrow with a stone circle, made on avera ge of seven quartz stones. Some mathematical relationships between hol e diameter, stone sizes and weight, and animal size were studied. A co rrelation was found, and stone selection by this spider postulated. Di fferent hypotheses on the adaptive value of stone circle are suggested .