Meet the Happy Face spider, the insect that might make even arachnophobics smile
Meet the only spider in the world guaranteed to bring a smile to your face - the Happy Face spider.
The tiny creature has been given the nickname thanks to bizarre markings on its body which resemble a big smiley face.
Found in the rainforests of Hawaiian islands the tiny arachnid is just a few millimetres big and said to be harmless to humans.
Web sensation: Meet the only spider in the world guaranteed to bring a smile to your face - the Happy Face Spider
The photographer who was delighted to capture the unusual creature on camera was Darlyne Murawski from Massachusetts, US.
She said: 'I took the picture when I was in Maui, while I was there I wanted to take the opportunity to see if I might be able to find a Happy Face Spider.
'We spent a while looking before we discovered one under a leaf in the rainforest.
'They're so tiny, they're difficult to find and you have to look at them through a magnifying glass to see the smiley face.
'But I eventually found one beneath a leaf in a rainforest.
At first I was amazed at how small it was, less than a quarter of an inch big.
'You need look at it through a magnifier to see it's smiley face, but it was fascinating.
'I was so thrilled I couldn't wait to get home and find out more about it.'
All smile: Found in the rainforests of Hawaiian islands, the tiny arachnid which has the scientific name Theridion grallator, is just a few millimetres big and said to be harmless to humans
'Say trees': Photographer Darlyne Murawski from Massachusetts, U.S. was delighted to capture the unusual creature on camera
All smiles: Found beneath a leaf in a rainforest, 'Happy Face' is less than a quarter of an inch big
FIVE FACTS ABOUT 'HAPPY FACE'
- Its scientific name is Theridion grallator in recognition of its long legs - the term is Latin for stiltwalker
- In Hawaii, where it is found it is known as the face-patterned spider - Nananana makaki'i
- The tiny spider reaches only grows to about five millimetres long
- Each arachnid has a unique pattern, and the patterns are different on each island where they inhabit
- Scientists theorise that markings may change depending on what food the spider has eaten, some believe the pattern serves no practical purpose
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發表於 2012-5-17 05:11 AM
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發表於 2012-5-20 10:57 PM
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