Record breaking achievements by spiders and the scientists who study them

Spiders feeding on earthworms revisited: consumption of giant earthworms in the tropics

(2017) Martin Nyffeler et al.   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

The Nephila clavipes genome highlights the diversity of spider silk genes and their complex expression

(2017) Paul L Babb et al.   NATURE GENETICS

An estimated 400–800 million tons of prey are annually killed by the global spider community

(2017) Martin Nyffeler et al.   NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN

Spiders in caves

(2017) Stefano Mammola et al.   PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

A radiation of the ornate Caribbean ‘smiley-faced spiders’, with descriptions of 15 new species (Araneae: Theridiidae, Spintharus)

(2017) Ingi Agnarsson et al.   ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY

An estimated 400–800 million tons of prey are annually killed by the global spider community

(2017) Martin Nyffeler et al.   Science of Nature

Vision & Change: Why It Matters

(2016) J. McLaughlin et al.   AMERICAN BIOLOGY TEACHER

Nocturnal foraging enhanced by enlarged secondary eyes in a net-casting spider

(2016) Jay A. Stafstrom et al.   Biology Letters

The spider tree of life: phylogeny of Araneae based on target-gene analyses from an extensive taxon sampling

(2016) Ward C. Wheeler et al.   CLADISTICS

Males Can Benefit from Sexual Cannibalism Facilitated by Self-Sacrifice

(2016) Steven K. Schwartz et al.   CURRENT BIOLOGY

Repeated Evolution of Power-Amplified Predatory Strikes in Trap-Jaw Spiders

(2016) Hannah M. Wood et al.   CURRENT BIOLOGY

Airborne Acoustic Perception by a Jumping Spider

(2016) Paul S. Shamble et al.   CURRENT BIOLOGY

Exceptionally short-period circadian clock inCyclosa turbinata: regulation of locomotor and web-building behavior in an orb-weaving spider

(2016) Darrell Moore et al.   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

Plant-eating by spiders

(2016) Martin Nyffeler et al.   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

Leaf masquerade in an orb web spider

(2016) Matjaž Kuntner et al.   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

The toughest recorded spider egg case silks are woven into composites with tear-resistant architectures

(2016) Parvez Alam et al.   Materials Science & Engineering C-Materials for Biological Applications

The nanotechnology of life-inspired systems

(2016) Bartosz A. Grzybowski et al.   Nature Nanotechnology

Taxonomic revision of the tarantula genus Aphonopelma Pocock, 1901 (Araneae, Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) within the United States

(2016) Chris A. Hamilton et al.   ZooKeys

Spider phylogenomics: untangling the Spider Tree of Life

(2016) Nicole L. Garrison et al.   PeerJ

Blind Flight? A New Troglobiotic Orthoclad (Diptera, Chironomidae) from the Lukina Jama – Trojama Cave in Croatia

(2016) Trond Andersen et al.   PLoS One

Sail or sink: novel behavioural adaptations on water in aerially dispersing species

(2015) Morito Hayashi et al.   BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

Evolutionary Morphology of the Primary Male Reproductive System and Spermatozoa of Goblin Spiders (Oonopidae; Araneae)

(2015) Elisabeth Lipke et al.   BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

A comprehensive phylogeny of birds (Aves) using targeted next-generation DNA sequencing

(2015) Richard O. Prum et al.   NATURE

Taxonomic etymology – in search of inspiration

(2015) Piotr Jozwiak et al.   ZooKeys

Sizing ocean giants: patterns of intraspecific size variation in marine megafauna

(2015) Craig R. McClain et al.   PeerJ

Natural History's Place in Science and Society

(2014) Joshua J. Tewksbury et al.   BIOSCIENCE

Visual Perception in the Brain of a Jumping Spider

(2014) Gil Menda et al.   CURRENT BIOLOGY

Forecasted climate and land use changes, and protected areas: the contrasting case of spiders

(2014) Boris Leroy et al.   DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS

Ecoliteracy for ecology and ecologists: eroded underpinnings

(2014) George Middendorf et al.   FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Outdoor Time Is Associated with Physical Activity, Sedentary Time, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Youth

(2014) Lee Schaefer et al.   JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS

Normal giants? Temporal and latitudinal shifts of Palaeozoic marine invertebrate gigantism and global change

(2014) Christian Klug et al.   LETHAIA

Ultrasensitive mechanical crack-based sensor inspired by the spider sensory system

(2014) Daeshik Kang et al.   NATURE

Fish Predation by Semi-Aquatic Spiders: A Global Pattern

(2014) Martin Nyffeler et al.   PLoS One

Phylogeny Predicts Future Habitat Shifts Due to Climate Change

(2014) Matjaž Kuntner et al.   PLoS One

Cebrennus Simon, 1880 (Araneae: Sparassidae): a revisionary up-date with the description of four new species and an updated identification key for all species

(2014) PETER JÄGER   ZOOTAXA

Spider genomes provide insight into composition and evolution of venom and silk

(2014) Kristian W. Sanggaard et al.   Nature Communications

Evidence of bird dropping masquerading by a spider to avoid predators

(2014) Min-Hui Liu et al.   Scientific Reports

Desert salt flats as oases for the spiderSaltonia incertaBanks (Araneae: Dictynidae)

(2014) Sarah C. Crews et al.   Ecology and Evolution

The dominance of seismic signaling and selection for signal complexity in Schizocosa multimodal courtship displays

(2013) Eileen A. Hebets et al.   BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY

Signal complexity and modular organization of the courtship behaviours of two sibling species of wolf spiders (Araneae: Lycosidae)

(2013) Alberto Chiarle et al.   BEHAVIOURAL PROCESSES

First assessment of effects of global change on threatened spiders: Potential impacts on Dolomedes plantarius (Clerck) and its conservation plans

(2013) Boris Leroy et al.   BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION

Spontaneous male death and monogyny in the dark fishing spider

(2013) S. K. Schwartz et al.   Biology Letters

Comparative analysis of passive defences in spiders (Araneae)

(2013) Stano Pekár   JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY

Spider locomotion on the water surface: biomechanics and diversity

(2013) Robert B. Suter   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

Spit and Venom from Scytodes Spiders: A Diverse and Distinct Cocktail

(2013) Pamela A. Zobel-Thropp et al.   JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH

A giant spider from the Jurassic of China reveals greater diversity of the orbicularian stem group

(2013) Paul A. Selden et al.   NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN

Bat Predation by Spiders

(2013) Martin Nyffeler et al.   PLoS One

Factors affecting lifespan in bird-eating spiders (Arachnida: Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) – A multi-species approach

(2013) Benjamin Ibler et al.   ZOOLOGISCHER ANZEIGER

Checklist of the spiders (Araneae) of Israel

(2013) SERGEI ZONSTEIN et al.   ZOOTAXA

Gift carrying in the spider Pisaura mirabilis: nuptial gift contents in nature and effects on male running speed and fighting success

(2012) Pavol Prokop et al.   ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

Spider-Venom Peptides: Structure, Pharmacology, and Potential for Control of Insect Pests

(2012) Glenn F. King et al.   Annual Review of Entomology

The Brazilian Goblin Spiders of the New Genus Predatoroonops (Araneae: Oonopidae)

(2012) Antonio D. Brescovit et al.   BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

Phylogenetic placement of pelican spiders (Archaeidae, Araneae), with insight into evolution of the “neck” and predatory behaviours of the superfamily Palpimanoidea

(2012) Hannah Marie Wood et al.   CLADISTICS

Nephila female gigantism attained through post-maturity molting

(2012) Matjaž Kuntner et al.   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

The discerning predator: decision rules underlying prey classification by a mosquito-eating jumping spider

(2012) X. J. Nelson et al.   JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Plant species richness: the world records

(2012) J. Bastow Wilson et al.   JOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE

Global physical activity levels: surveillance progress, pitfalls, and prospects

(2012) Pedro C Hallal et al.   LANCET

Rivaling the World's Smallest Reptiles: Discovery of Miniaturized and Microendemic New Species of Leaf Chameleons (Brookesia) from Northern Madagascar

(2012) Frank Glaw et al.   PLoS One

Evidence of the Most Stretchable Egg Sac Silk Stalk, of the European Spider of the Year Meta menardi

(2012) Emiliano Lepore et al.   PLoS One

Divergent role of the Hox gene Antennapedia in spiders is responsible for the convergent evolution of abdominal limb repression

(2012) S. Khadjeh et al.   PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Hyperacute motion detection by the lateral eyes of jumping spiders

(2012) Daniel B. Zurek et al.   VISION RESEARCH

Birds Caught in Spider Webs: A Synthesis of Patterns

(2012) Daniel M. Brooks   Wilson Journal of Ornithology

An extraordinary new family of spiders from caves in the Pacific Northwest (Araneae, Trogloraptoridae, new family)

(2012) Joel Ledford et al.   ZooKeys

The allometry of CNS size and consequences of miniaturization in orb-weaving and cleptoparasitic spiders

(2011) Rosannette Quesada et al.   ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT

Sperm dynamics in spiders

(2011) M. E. Herberstein et al.   BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY

Adapting the IUCN Red List criteria for invertebrates

(2011) Pedro Cardoso et al.   BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION

A golden orb-weaver spider (Araneae: Nephilidae: Nephila) from the Middle Jurassic of China

(2011) P. A. Selden et al.   Biology Letters

The diving bell and the spider: the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica

(2011) R. S. Seymour et al.   JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Multi-Modal Courtship in the Peacock Spider, Maratus volans (O.P.-Cambridge, 1874)

(2011) Madeline B. Girard et al.   PLoS One

How Did the Spider Cross the River? Behavioral Adaptations for River-Bridging Webs in Caerostris darwini (Araneae: Araneidae)

(2011) Matjaž Gregorič et al.   PLoS One

Australian Assassins, Part I: A review of the Assassin Spiders (Araneae: Archaeidae) of mid-eastern Australia

(2011) Michael Rix et al.   ZooKeys

Predatory behaviour of the social orb-weaver spider,Geratonephila burmanican. gen., n. sp. (Araneae: Nephilidae) with its wasp prey,Cascoscelio incassusn. gen., n. sp. (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in Early Cretaceous Burmese amber

(2011) George Poinar et al.   HISTORICAL BIOLOGY

Geological history and phylogeny of Chelicerata

(2010) Jason A. Dunlop   ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT

Mesothelae have venom glands

(2010) Rainer Foelix et al.   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

Web gigantism in Darwin's bark spider, a new species from Madagascar (Araneidae: Caerostris)

(2010) Matjaž Kuntner et al.   JOURNAL OF ARACHNOLOGY

The role of the anterior lateral eyes in the vision-based behaviour of jumping spiders

(2010) D. B. Zurek et al.   JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY

Spitting Performance Parameters and Their Biomechanical Implications in the Spitting Spider,Scytodes thoracica

(2010) Robert B. Suter et al.   JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Among Schoolchildren: A 34-Country Comparison

(2010) Regina Guthold et al.   JOURNAL OF PEDIATRICS

A new mechanism of sound production by courting male jumping spiders (Araneae: Salticidae, Saitis michaelseni Simon)

(2010) D. T. Gwynne et al.   JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Bioprospecting Finds the Toughest Biological Material: Extraordinary Silk from a Giant Riverine Orb Spider

(2010) Ingi Agnarsson et al.   PLoS One

Spider-Venom Peptides as Therapeutics

(2010) Natalie J. Saez et al.   Toxins

Spider Silk: From Soluble Protein to Extraordinary Fiber

(2009) Markus Heim et al.   ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION

A risky defence by a spider using conspicuous decoys resembling itself in appearance

(2009) Ling Tseng et al.   ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR

Fossil spiders

(2009) Paul A. Selden et al.   BIOLOGICAL REVIEWS

Hypoxic coma as a strategy to survive inundation in a salt-marsh inhabiting spider

(2009) J. Petillon et al.   Biology Letters

Herbivory in a spider through exploitation of an ant–plant mutualism

(2009) Christopher J. Meehan et al.   CURRENT BIOLOGY

Grand challenges in organismal biology

(2009) K. Schwenk et al.   INTEGRATIVE AND COMPARATIVE BIOLOGY

First report of amber with spider webs and microbial inclusions from the earliest Cretaceous (c. 140 Ma) of Hastings, Sussex

(2009) MARTIN BRASIER et al.   JOURNAL OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY

Evolution: Biology's next top model?

(2009) Brendan Maher   NATURE

Complexity in biomaterials for tissue engineering

(2009) Elsie S. Place et al.   NATURE MATERIALS

Discovery of the Largest Orbweaving Spider Species: The Evolution of Gigantism in Nephila

(2009) Matjaž Kuntner et al.   PLoS One

Developing Engineering Products Using Inspiration From Nature

(2008) Prabir Sarkar et al.   JOURNAL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION SCIENCE IN ENGINEERING

An Integrative Method for Delimiting Cohesion Species: Finding the Population-Species Interface in a Group of Californian Trapdoor Spiders with Extreme Genetic Divergence and Geographic Structuring

(2008) Jason E. Bond et al.   SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGY

Sexual Conflict over Nuptial Gifts in Insects

(2007) Darryl T. Gwynne   Annual Review of Entomology

Medical Aspects of Spider Bites

(2007) Richard S. Vetter et al.   Annual Review of Entomology