[ad_1]
The ability of mothers to produce milk for their babies is generally considered a unique feature of mammals, but scientists have discovered a species of spider that also feeds its young.
Spider mothers have been known to feed their spiders with a milk-like substance and continue to treat them almost until adulthood.
Lactation-like feeding is known elsewhere in the animal kingdom – pigeons and flamingos produce what is called "skim milk" from a gland located in their neck. However, the intensity and duration of maternal care observed in spider species are considered extremely unusual.
The observations focused on a species of jumping spider, usually found in Taiwan, which lives in nests and mimics the appearance of ants. Newly hatched spiders were found to be entirely dependent on a nutritious spider-based milk, containing nearly four times the cow's milk protein, secreted and fed by their mothers.
Scientists have observed that spiders first drank in droplets of spider milk left on the surface of the nest and then sucked directly from the mother's spawning opening.
Spider mothers continued to care and feed their offspring for nearly 40 days, long after they could feed themselves and almost to the point of sexual maturity.
Milk was not essential for the survival of children, but seemed to improve their overall health and their chances of survival in adulthood.
The results, by scientists from the Chinese Academy of Science of Yunnan, are published in the journal Science.
Source link
