What features makes a sea spider able to live under the ocean?
– AIR BELL “The water spider’s air bell is in some ways working like an external lung,” said study co-author Michael Taborsky. As the spider fills the web structure with air, the structure takes on a bell shape and a silvery sheen. The silk membrane allows oxygen to diffuse in from the water and carbon dioxide to diffuse out, so the spiders do not have to replenish the air supply often. But until this recent study, scientists did not know that the water spiders also used the air bells to breathe. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/… ” Because of their small size and slender body and legs, no respiratory system is necessary, with gases moving by diffusion.
