E-International Scientific Research Journal
ISSN: 2094-1749 Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 2011
Color Change Behavior of Spider Gea Spp. (C L Koch, 1843)
from Grassland Ecosystem of Solapur, Maharashtra
R. V.Hippargi*, N. V. Shah*, K.V.Rao*, P. M. Bolde**, S.V.Manthen,***A.K.Bodkhe****
* Department of Zoology, Walchand College of Arts and Science, Solapur.
** Department of Electronics & Telecommunications, A.G.Patil Institute of Tech, Solapur.
*** Dept. of Zoology, D.B.F. Dayanand College of Arts & Science, Solapur
****Dept. of Zoology, S.G.B. Amravati University, Amravati.
Abstract
Gea (Araneae, Araneidae) is a tropical orb-weaving spider showing dark brown abdominal
color with yellow and white patches and many smaller scattered yellowish and white spots on the
dorsum. This study documents rapid and reversible physiological color change in Gea Spp.
Ecological and behavioral studies pertaining to spiders are very few in India and such studies
will shed more light on the ecophysiological mechanism and the possible evolutionary
dimensions to the color change behavior observed in spiders.
Key Words: Gea Spp, orb-weaving spider, Color change
Introduction:
Color change in animals is a common phenomenon associated with change in physiological state,
which in turn may be induced by stress, environmental and ontogenetic changes. In spider, color
changes are known to occur under a variety of circumstances, such as ontogenetic irreversible
color change, occurring during developmental stages from spiderling to adult spider and hence
require longer periods. Slow reversible color change according to the changing background of
spider may occur within two to four weeks, rapid physiological reversible color changes
occurring within fractions of second and requiring few minutes for regaining the original color.
Reversible slow color change has been most extensively documented in the crab spider
Misumena vatia (Thomisidae) by Peckard (1905), Gadeau de Kerville (1907), Rabaud (1923),
Gabitschevsky (1927), Weigel (1941), Hinton (1976). Similar reversible color change in other
crab spiders was investigated by Heckel (1891), Bristowe (1958) and in Lynx spider, Peucetia
viridans by Neck (1978). Ontogenetic color changes in spiders were reported by Bonnet (1929,
1930, 1933), Homann (1946), Millot (1949), Barbara & Nentwing (2001), Edmunds & Edmunds
(1986). The most rapid reversible changes in color to date are found in various Araneid spiders.
The rapid color change is attributed to migration of chromatic inclusions or retraction of
guanocyes by Blanke (1975). Similar phenomenon was also recorded in other spiders by
Bristowe (1958), Sabath (1969). Diet induced color change in spider was first reported by
Gillespie (1989) in Theridion gallator (Theridiidae) and demonstrated change in base coloration
of abdomen.
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ISSN: 2094-1749 Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 2011
Materials and Methods:
Study sites:
As a part of ongoing study to investigate diversity of spiders from Solapur region, regular
surveys were conducted from Jan 2009 to Dec 2010 from three different study sites. Gea Spp. is
nocturnal in habitat and prefers to remain in low vegetation, mainly associated with grass and
shrubs. Gea specimens were collected both by sweeping and active searching methods and later
preserved in 70% ethanol. Study was conducted at following sites
1. Southern Tropical Thorn Forest patches around Nannaj Sanctuary, Solapur situated at 22
kms from Solapur.
2. Natural Grassland patches near Malumbra village situated on Tuljapur road at 35 kms
from Solapur.
3. Smruti Van Park situated in Solapur city.
Identification:
Identification of the specimen was performed as per the keys given in the book Spiders of India,
Sebastian and Peter (2009). Currently voucher specimens of Gea spp. from all three study sites
are deposited at Zoology Department, Walchand College of Arts and Science, Solapur.
Observations:
Dropping and Color Change (Field Observations):
During our field observations, it was observed that the spider remains at the center of web. The
original dorsal abdominal color of the spider is dark brown with yellow and white patches and
many smaller scattered yellowish and white spots. When the spider was disturbed, it drops
immediately to the ground and instantly changes all white and yellowish patches and spots to
dark brown and black color. The spider tries to hide beneath dried leaves and grass and then it
regains slowly its previous original color. To investigate the actual requirement of time in
regaining its original color further experiments were conducted in the laboratory using
observations recorded by video camera (DSC Sony H2).
Color Change (Laboratory Observations):
To record the sequence of events from disappearance to regaining of original color the Gea
female specimen was first allowed an acclimation period of 24 hours in the laboratory. The
spider was taken in a glass trough and was allowed to settle for sometime and then it was
artificially disturbed to change its color In front of video camera. A total of 10 such events were
recorded (Table 1). Based on these observations the actual time required and the various
sequential changes in reappearance of all patches and spots on the dorsum to its original colour
were noted (Fig. 1-4).
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E-International Scientific Research Journal
ISSN: 2094-1749 Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 2011
Table 1: Color changing behavior in Gea Spp. (n=10 video observations)
No. of Video recordings
Time (sec) required to regain
original color
1
51
2
49
3
48
4
49
5
50
6
45
7
52
8
47
9
52
10
50
Average time
49.3 sec
Results:
Based on the observations using video recordings it was found that Gea spp. required an average
of 49.3 seconds to regain its original color (Table-1).
Discussion and Conclusion:
Previous behavioral studies on rapid reversible color change in various spiders failed to report
actual time required for regaining original color. Our results and observations are in line with the
observations made by Sabath (1969), in which they had reported the color change in Gea
heptagon. As per their observations the spider required few minutes to regain its original colour,
but in our investigation it was observed that a species belonging to genera Gea required less than
one minute. Such behavioral studies on Indian spiders are rarely documented and our studies
concerning color change behavior in other spiders are in progress.
Color change plays a vital role in the survival strategy of many animals. As is reported earlier in
many species of spiders color change serves to enhance crypsis against predators. Color change
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ISSN: 2094-1749 Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 2011
may also serve to counteract the development of a search image by the predator, hence
increasing the likelihood of survival in the wild (Gillespie, 1989).
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Figure showing various stages during color change behavior of female Gea spp. (Fig. 1-4)
Fig 1: Immediately after disturbance
Stage I
Fig 2: Stage II
Fig 3: Stage III
Fig 4: Stage IV
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