Can spiders breath underwater?
If you’re wondering how arachnids breathe underwater, you won’t believe this spider’s amazing trick!
Perhaps you’ve been reading about this smart insect in Whizz Pop Bang 56: Splash! Want to find out more? It’s on sale in our science shop!
Tiny water spiders spend their lives underwater, even though they need to breathe air! They collect large air bubbles from the surface and carry them underwater. The bubbles absorb oxygen from the water, meaning each can last more than a day! If you catch one pond dipping, look for a silvery air bubble clinging to its hairy body.
Now that you’ve discovered how water spiders breathe underwater, why not show a friend and amaze them with this fascinating piece of nature?