Overview

Spiders are often underestimated as suitable behavioural models because of the general belief that due to their small brains their behaviour is innate and mostly invariable. Challenging this assumption, this fascinating book shows that rather than having a limited behavioural repertoire, spiders show surprising cognitive abilities, changing their behaviour to suit their situational needs. The team of authors unravels the considerable intra-specific as well as intra-individual variability and plasticity in different behaviours ranging from foraging and web building to communication and courtship. An introductory chapter on spider biology, systematics and evolution provides the reader with the necessary background information to understand the discussed behaviours and helps to place them into an evolutionary context. Highlighting an under-explored area of behaviour, this book will provide new ideas for behavioural researchers and students unfamiliar with spiders as well as a valuable resource for those already working in this intriguing field.

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9780511974496

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Reviews

This book somehow mends the past neglect of these eight-legged anthropods and makes a strong case for considering them as a valuable behavioral model. Recommended. J.M. Gonzalez, Choice Magazine Spider Behaviour: Flexibility and Versatility presents an excellent summary of the state of behavioural research on spiders that a broad range of readers will find stimulating. Herberstein deserves congratulations for conceiving of and editing such a fine book. Linda S. Rayor, Animal Behaviour

Author Information

Marie Elisabeth Herberstein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Macquarie University, Sydney. Her research investigates a range of behaviours in spiders including web building, learning, mating (including sexual cannibalism) and the use of deceptive signals.

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