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Two
spider species live their lives in the inter-tidal zones along the
east and west coasts of South Africa. Both Desis formidibalis
(Desidae) and Amaurobioides africanus (Anyphaenidae) commonly
commandeer old limpet shells to live in, and secure these with silk
to the underside of rocks or to other old shells trapped in rock
crevices in the inter-tidal zone.
Desis
formidibalis is appropriately named, with fearsome mandibles
that are designed to capture their favoured crustacean prey item
– the Spike-backed isopod Parisocladus
peforatus.
Photograph © Simon van
Noort |
