Spiders

Product Description

Spiders are the most successful terrestrial predators on earth & we are privileged to share the planet with at least 40 000 species of these remarkable animals. From mountaintops to seashores & from ponds to deserts spiders are all around us. Their success lies in the astonishing array of techniques that have evolved to allow them to catch their prey; many are based on the spiders secret weapon silk including the familiar orb-webs. However not all spiders sit & wait for prey to come to them; there are spiders that lassoo insects others specialise in stealing from other spiders & some spit sticky silk over their prey. There are fishing spiders jumping spiders & spiders that pretend to be ants; some even draw prey to their doom by mimicking moth pheromones. Stephen Daltons detailed photographs unswervingly superb & beautiful chronicle the diversity of the spider world. Chapters are divided along broad ecological themes with each focusing on different species their habitats hunting techniques ecology & behaviour. Also featured are chapters on spider anatomy & a guide to photographing them.