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4.24.2009

British scientists study Hawaiian happy face spider

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5199409/British-scientists-study-Hawaiian-happy-face-spider.html
British scientists study Hawaiian happy face spider  http://nature.berkeley.edu/%7Egillespi/Yellow1.jpg
The spider, which measures just a few millimetres across, has developed bizarre markings giving the appearance of a smiling face.

Scientists think the spider, which has the scientific name Theridion grallator and is harmless to humans, has evolved the patterns to confuse predators.

It is under-threat of extinction in the rainforests of the Hawaiian island chain in the Pacific.

Dr Geoff Oxford, a spider expert from the University of York, said: "I must admit when I turned over the first leaf and saw one it certainly brought a smile to my face.

http://flschool.org/classpgs/charlotte/image4.jpghttp://flschool.org/classpgs/charlotte/image5.jpg

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