Second-Chance Spiders

Posted by Queuebot in Animal on May 4, 2009 at 3:10 am


36 hours after drowning, wolf spiders were able to revive themselves and suffered no ill effects, scientists discovered recently.

A study at the University of Rennes in France found that wolf spiders died after 24 to 36 hours of being immersed in water. But when the scientists came back to weigh the dead spiders, they found them alive again. Apparently wolf spiders can put themselves into comas and shut down the metabolic processes that do not require air. Arachnologist Julien Pétillon says,

“There could be many other species that could this this that we do not know of yet.”

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(image credit: Sonia Dourlot )

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.


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20 comments to "Second-Chance Spiders"

  1. Larfin Jackarse
    May 4th, 2009 at 3:32 am

    They only just discovered this?

    I remember from when I was a wee kid that any spiders in the pool had to be bought to an adults attention as funnel web spiders could hold their breath for a few days.

    Of course as kids we all tried to see how long we could our breath and decided funnel webs were scary. That and their fun habit of taking up residence in your socks and shoes.

  2. Sonuvah
    May 4th, 2009 at 4:01 am

    Well, jeez, have we learned nothing from "The Itsy Bitsy Spider"?

  3. Skipweasel
    May 4th, 2009 at 4:02 am

    It reads as if they were just casually drowning spiders and noticed this as a side-effect. I'm sure that wasn't what happened!

  4. SenorMysterioso
    May 4th, 2009 at 4:26 am

    Creepy. Makes me think it's the same spider that has been terrorizing me in the shower despite washing him down the drain after every encounter.

    It is becoming more inventive as time passes. first crawling out of the drain, then zip-lining from the ceiling and finally hiding under the curve in the soap. I think he chooses the shower for his sneak attacks because he knows I am no more vulnerable than when wet and naked.

  5. felixthecat
    May 4th, 2009 at 6:08 am

    "It reads as if they were just casually drowning spiders and noticed this as a side-effect. I’m sure that wasn’t what happened!"

    Knowing college professors, I can believe that was what happened.

  6. Ajan
    May 4th, 2009 at 6:53 am

    Interesting. There sure are a couple of species like that. One being Humans. There is an asan in Yoga where you go into a trance kind of state and put a stop to all the bodily functions besides the Brain and Heart. I'm not sure about the scientific theory behind it. Yogis(or People who do meditations) are known to do this

  7. Morgan
    May 4th, 2009 at 7:05 am

    Another sign that spiders are actually aliens?

  8. emmiline valentine
    May 4th, 2009 at 7:19 am

    and now i don't feel so bad about all of the wolf spiders i flushed down the toilet when i was younger.
    believe it or not, i really felt extreme guilt about doing that.

    too bad they can't be revived after being squashed.

  9. Gail Pink
    May 4th, 2009 at 8:50 am

    Scary

  10. Courtie
    May 4th, 2009 at 9:39 am

    Yep. They're already horrifying and now they can't die.
    GREEEAAAAT.

  11. gosnailgo
    May 4th, 2009 at 10:07 am

    woo-hoo! does this mean scientists can waterboard bugs? :D poor spider...he was just a logistics overseer!

  12. Megan
    May 4th, 2009 at 11:19 am

    Oh boy I can't wait to see what they drown next. :-(

  13. dorkhero
    May 4th, 2009 at 1:32 pm

    Just goes to show that a physical squishing is always needed.

  14. lucky
    May 4th, 2009 at 2:43 pm

    so...from what i can tell from reading this...they are essentially zombies...and they are really coming back from the dead for my brains...spiders really are the worst thing on this planet...except for maybe giant squid...but at least giant squid could have the potential to be sushi

  15. Gadget Sleuth
    May 4th, 2009 at 6:09 pm

    I don't know of any other species that does this, but this is scary!

  16. nickolas_warner
    May 4th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    I wonder if that means that if you flush a spider down the toilet, it can come back to life when it comes out the other end.

  17. Johnny1234
    May 4th, 2009 at 10:57 pm

    it says "shuts down metabolic processes that do not require air" I think you meant to say "that DO require air"

  18. free internet games for kids
    May 5th, 2009 at 5:57 am

    Kinda happens to me while I'm at work. It's like being submerged for 8-9 hours, then at the end of the day, you just miraculously 'live' again. Totally understand wolf-spiders here.

  19. Chesterfield
    May 5th, 2009 at 8:53 am

    A few years ago, I found a funnel weaver frozen in a chunk of ice during spring thaw. I thawed it out and the damn thing slowly began to flex its legs. Within an hour it was running around!

  20. chezanator
    July 4th, 2009 at 4:24 pm

    Just flushed a spider for the millineth time THIS YEAR as my other half (a manly male!! snort!) was screaming to get it away from him- safe in the knowledge that she wud begin the slow climb back up to our bathroom ready to terriose him again tomoz night with her absail down from the cavity wall vent onto his knee as he sits in the bath mwahhhahhhh. Its like a mutual silent plot between me and the absailing spid whom i have named 'La Frog' LMAO


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