Net spiders are an unusual little spider species from the barren landscapes of
Nalmaria, where life barely finds away aside from the grasp of the horrifying
hostilins, gigantic arachnid species that dominate every inch of the planet aside from the
Habitable Zone.
Anatomy
Net spiders have a simple anatomy for an arachnid species, similar to many other small spiders. They possess two body parts, a cephalothorax and a large abdomen. Their abdomen is especially large due to the incredible amount of silk that is needed for hunting.
Net spiders have a drab colouration, with brown and white striped bodies, and a small blue spot on the ends of their abdomens, only present in females. Their colouration helps hide them from predators.
Diet & Hunting
Net spiders are a hypercarnivorous species, almost exclusively consuming insects and other net spiders. They have some of the most interesting feeding methods on the planet, producing a net-shaped silk that they fire at prey. Their feeding habits have been studied at close proximity, but scientists still cannot determine how the silk is shaped in this way. There are more pressing concerns for scientists, such as how the spiders on the planet grow to a mile wide, and the way these insignificantly small animals hunt prey isn't exactly number one on their priority list.
Habitat
As a small species that is hunted by many others, net spiders like to squeeze themselves in the crevices and cracks in the dry ground of the Deadlands. They typically barricade a small crevice with their silk, leaving a tiny hole that they can crawl through. They lay eggs in these little homes, the parents protecting them with their lives. However, some nests are destroyed by large animals stepping on them, as they are that small.
Comments
Author's Notes
Thank you Amélie I. S. Debruyne for the idea!