A "spider-centric" view of the world opens our eyes to their remarkable senses.
Source: Pixabay/Pexels
KEY POINTS
Recently, Simone, an avid student of spider behavior, told me about
Betsy Matson's fascinating essay "Jumping spiders' remarkable senses
capture a world beyond our perception," and after I read it, I
thought about other people who have asked me to write more about
spiders and the ways in which they sense and make sense of their
hidden worlds, which often include our homes. I also thought about
the small-brained spider I had gently removed from under my pillow
that morning and wondered what he or she was seeing and feeling as I
placed them outside, a short trip for me but perhaps a huge journey
for them. Research shows that small brains can do amazing things.
Matson's piece is an outstanding summary of the fascinating visual
capacities of jumping spiders, and it made me think more about how
narrow our anthropocentric—human-centered—views of the world are
when we consider the amazing diversity of other animals who also
have to negotiate their own worlds.
There are many secret worlds out there, and while we know a lot about some of them, there still is much to learn.
....
Please read the ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE (PDF).