İt laid with its legs in a position as if it has died although I didn't even touch it. And some seconds later it started moving fast again. How can you explain this? Evolution , creationism, intelligent design..
2006-07-25 04:12:20 · 16 answers · asked by skeptic 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
He's faking his death so you'll leave him alone.
They do it all the time....lots of animals, bugs, etc do it.
That's why I make sure to step on 'em twice!!
2006-07-25 04:16:23 · answer #1 · answered by Miss. A. Laneous 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The spider was faking it's death, so that way one would not see it as a threat and thus not cause it any harm. If it were moving about, yone would more likely be willing to stomp on it.
This is probably a defense mechanism that has been passed on from generation to generation. Odds are that the spiders that did not utilize this form of protection found themselves being stomped on, before they could reproduce.
2006-07-25 11:17:20 · answer #2 · answered by ralphwaldo45 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Was there a dead spider near it? Imitation is a very basic response. It's pretty hard to say what's going on with the motivations of a spider.
2006-07-25 11:15:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Evolution : Over millions of years, this species of spider has evolved the "play dead" tactic to fool predators. Spiders which can do this well are rewarded, and can go on to reproduce, while spiders which can't, are usually eaten.
Creationism/ID : Goddidit.
2006-07-25 11:15:53 · answer #4 · answered by rahidz2003 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be a fear-inspired response. Deer lay still near a predator.
But the reason your spider did it is because its ancestors who didnt - died more often.
Your spider is the result of the ones who did.
2006-07-25 11:47:49 · answer #5 · answered by Alexander Shannon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Spiders whose behavior better enabled them to survive in a specific environment (environment is a very complex word here) passed on their behavior genetically to their offspring.
Spiders whose behavior was poorly established for a specific environment were less likely to survive and so their genetic traits were not as prevalent in each passing generation.
2006-07-25 11:19:16 · answer #6 · answered by Arkangyle 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
evolution, i guess. if those are our options.. it's the spider's instinct, to 'play possum' because predators usually like to eat fresh prey (it protects them from eatingrotten meat). i suppose the spiders with the best dramatics don't get killed, and therefore can reproduce and pass their theatirc skills on to their babies!
2006-07-25 11:17:00 · answer #7 · answered by Johnny Blaze 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's how they protect themselves, curling their (comparatively) hard little legs in to protect their belly which is their most vulnerable spot. Sorry, but this is when I usually hit them with a shoe!
2006-07-25 11:16:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you know the spider was faking death?
2006-07-25 11:14:34 · answer #9 · answered by Billy! 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many species out there who will pretend to be dead. It is a survival instinct
2006-07-25 11:17:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋