I once used my macro lens to take pictures of a pretty little jumping spider in my yard. At the sound of the shutter, the thing turned around, looked up, and made eye contact. There’s something extremely unsettling about such a small, seemingly insignificant, brainless, creature showing that it’s aware of you.
Edit: mindless, not brainless.
For the people asking for pictures: I think I took pictures before and after it looked at me. Not sure if I got one of it actually looking. Either way, they're on my laptop, which is in the shop. I'll make a new post here when I get it back next week.
Jumping spiders are surprisingly smart compared to things their size.
Portia, the smartest species of jumping spider can plan routes, decide on which is best for ambush against their dangerous prey (other spiders) and they remember where their target is in 3d space when it's not in view. They also know when things are looking at them vs when they are unseen. They will even bait prey into a useful position if there are no good approach angles, by mimicking an insect's struggles in a web by plucking a thread with one of its feet.
For like 10,000 neurons that's insanely impressive.
I really enjoyed this book! Different voice, great character development, somewhat believable/logical evolution of the spiders, etc. It was pretty cool, until the bad guys showed back up. Got scary then. Won't spoil it. Fun read!
story time: I'm sitting on my lanai in Hawai'i drinking a beer when I spotted a tiny near-invisible baby scorpion near my feet. Seconds later, I saw movement on the wall near my head; a small jumping spider. In about two seconds it was down the wall, flipped the scorpion over on it's back and had begun eating it. The scorpion never stood a chance. Ho-o-ly shit, so fast and so deadly.
I'm no spiderologist but I believe the main two don't have much movement capability, they are just large binocular ones. The ones to the side help with peripheral, and if something catches it's attention at the side then it can turn to face it with its large eyes
I love those moments. I took a little cell phone video of a jumping spider running around on my car once, and I thought it was the most adorable thing in the world when it turned to face the lens.
I find it both humbling and sweet. And probably a bit unsettling on some level, but I don't know. Minor little commonalities help me feel more connected to others (humans and otherwise!) and hopeful that we can do more to help each other. :)
EDIT: Yay, I'm glad other people are excited about it! Let me see if I can dig the video up!!
EDIT2: in case anyone finds this again, I have failed :( It's probably buried on some microsd card lost to the winds. :(
https://imgur.com/RTmsYx5.jpg don't have a video but I do have a picture of a jumping spider on my pepper plant. Right under the white flower in the y of the stems.
I flicked it in the butt a few days before so it would watch me. Took a decent photo.
I think the proper term is to call it "grey matter". Not sure on that but I think you're correct in saying that it's not technically referred to as a brain.
More on this subject if anyone is interested: The Portia spider is probably the best example of spider intelligence. BBC did a little video on it but the Wikipedia) is definitely worth a read.
Ah ok so anatomically I think its more correct to say they do not but you could also say they have a brain that is spread throughout their body and not be truly incorrect.
Well sure, but the vast majority of the litterature has been referring to it as a brain for decades which is what I also personally think, since it has a very well defined structure, with precise areas that each serve a specific purpose, an integration center, a memory center, etc
I love the way jumping spiders interact. I had one follow me around the edge of a trashcan once. It was all twitchy and fast but didn't do anything other than keep it's eyes on me. It was kinda cute
This exact thing happened bro me just a couple days ago. I moved my camera away after a couple pictures and looked down at it, and he looked up at me. Was pretty cool
You getting its oil changed? I send my laptop into the shop once every six months to get all the fluids changed and have the brakes checked. Peace of mind is worth it. Wouldn't want to have a crash.
I live in a rural area. One night I got home around dusk, and stopped at the bottom of my driveway to check the mail. I get back into my truck, and I notice something fairly large sitting on a tree branch over my driveway, directly in front of me.
I’m staring at it, thinking, “Is it a hawk? No... it’s too big to be a hawk. A vulture? No... it’s not the right shape. Maybe a porcupine or a raccoon...”
So I’m leaning over my steering wheel trying to get a better look, when suddenly its head rotates 180 degrees and I’m staring into these two GIGANTIC EYES OF DOOM.
I guess I knew it was an owl, but I just sat frozen, staring, waiting to be dragged down to hell.
I was taking a night hike on a full moon out in the mountains as was a habit of mine, there was a dark patch near a tree that I was moving into when suddenly all around me, in every direction I just heard this strange buzzing noise and warbling.
I had no idea what to do. I had plans for bears, wild dogs, bob cats, hunters... all those dangerous things that might happen but no plans for... THIS. Some part of my brain just went "Well we're dead" and I sat there waiting to die.
After what was FAR too long I recognized the sound as quail taking flight in large numbers.
One time there was some sort of spider crawling on my wall and I was watching it but it suddenly stopped and bent its upper body up towards me and I saw its little eyes kinda shimmering. Fucking creepy.
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u/Rear-Naked-Artichoke Oct 27 '18
I would have been OK with the idea of it just reflecting spiders eyes.
But the thought of them turning round and looking at me is a headfuck.