Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters VOL. 71 · NO. 1 | June 2026

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  Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters VOL. 71 · NO. 1 | June 2026 A new species of Panamomops (Araneae: Linyphiidae) from Ukraine with the first record of P. inconspicuus for the country Valery A. Gnelitsa Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters Jun 2026 Vol. 71, No. 1: 1-8 https://www.bioone.org/journals/arachnologische-mitteilungen/volume-71/issue-1/aramit7101/A-new-species-of-Panamomops-Araneae--Linyphiidae-from-Ukraine/10.30963/aramit7101.full First record of Macrothele calpeiana (Araneae: Macrothelidae) in Austria Antonia Grausgruber, Martin Hepner, Sonja Reimoser & Christian Baranyi Arachnologische Mitteilungen: Arachnology Letters Jun 2026 Vol. 71, No. 1: 9-12 https://www.bioone.org/journals/arachnologische-mitteilungen/volume-71/issue-1/aramit7102/First-record-of-Macrothele-calpeiana-Araneae-Macrothelidae-in-Austria/10.30963/aramit7102.full Epigeic spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in urban green spaces in Westphalia Kolina Büll & Sascha Buchholz ...

Death-feigning behavior following dragline escape in a huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae)

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Death-feigning behavior following dragline escape in a huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae)

Abstract 

Death-feigning behavior (thanatosis) was documented in the Pantropical Huntsman Spider, Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae), observed within a human dwelling. Upon disturbance, the spider rapidly descended from a vertical surface using a silk dragline and subsequently assumed a motionless posture with legs partially flexed inward, closely resembling a dead individual. This immobile state persisted for approximately ten minutes despite mild tactile stimulation. Although huntsman spiders primarily relied on rapid escape responses, this observation indicated that thanatosis may have functioned as an additional anti-predator strategy. There are limited reports of this behavior in Sparassidae.

Sylvester, C. & Abhilash, H. R. 2026. Death-feigning behavior following dragline
escape in a huntsman spider Heteropoda venatoria (Araneae: Sparassidae). Munis
Entomology & Zoology, 21 (2): 2095-2097 Munis Entomology & Zoology