Cebrennus rechenbergi

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For the wheel spider of Southern Africa, see
Carparachne aureoflava
.

Cebrennus rechenbergi
Cebrennus rechenbergi in action
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Sparassidae
Genus: Cebrennus
Species:
C. rechenbergi
Binomial name
Cebrennus rechenbergi
Map of Morocco with the Errachidia Province in dark red, the region where Cebrennus rechenbergi lives

Cebrennus rechenbergi, also known as the Moroccan flic-flac spider and cartwheeling spider,

biomimetic robot research, resulting in the development of an experimental robot based on the spider's motion.[5][6]

Etymology

The spider is named after its discoverer,

Technische Universität Berlin. Rechenberg may have first encountered the spider on a trip to Morocco as early as 2006, but it was not until 2008 that he collected the first specimen.[7][6][3] It was initially confused with the Tunisian spider Cebrennus villosus, but later identified as a separate species by Peter Jäger of the Senckenberg Nature Research Society.[3][4] After observing small variations in the genitalia of the two species and noticing the distinctive flic-flac motion of the spider, Jäger confirmed its status as a new species.[4][3] The holotype is dated 15 July 2009.[5]

Description

Jäger describes C. rechenbergi as a medium-sized huntsman spider. Male bodies measure 13.8 to 19.0 mm (0.54 to 0.75 in) long; female bodies measure 19 to 19.5 mm (0.75 to 0.77 in) long. Males and females are similarly colored white with black scopulae on their ventral legs, and yellow coloring on their dorsal opisthosoma and femora.[5]

Behavior

Cebrennus rechenbergi
flic-flacing

The Moroccan flic-flac spider is nocturnal and is known to feed on moths before sunrise.

cartwheeling as a form of locomotion.[4] The flic-flac spider can reach speeds of up to 2 m/s using forward or back flips to evade threats.[2][3]

Distribution

Erg Chebbi sand dune habitat

C. rechenbergi lives in the sand dunes of the Erg Chebbi desert located in Errachidia Province in southeastern Morocco near the border with Algeria.[5] It is one of 17 species in the genus Cebrennus, typically found in Northern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.[5][8]

Spider robot

Rechenberg's discovery of the flic-flac spider inspired the development of a biomimetic robot based on the rolling spider locomotion. The design process initially involved at least four generations, with the fourth using six legs in three pairs.[6][Note 1] Rechenberg named the working machine model Tabbot, based on the Berber word "tabacha", meaning spider. The model, which is approximately 25 cm in length, can both walk in the sand and turn somersaults to move.[4] Rechenberg envisions possible uses for the robot "in agriculture, on the ocean floor, or even on Mars".[4][9]

Notes

  1. ^ When King 2013 published his work on Rechenberg's robot design, Cebrennus rechenbergi had not yet been differentiated from Cebrennus villosus as a new species. King makes a note of this, writing that any future taxonomic changes were beyond the scope of the book.

References

  1. ISBN 9781783339396
    .
  2. ^ a b c Prostak, Sergio (May 6, 2014). "Cebrennus rechenbergi: Cartwheeling Spider Discovered in Morocco". Sci-News.com. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d e N. BHANOO, SINDYA (May 4, 2014). "A Desert Spider With Astonishing Moves". The New York Times. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Bröhl, Ilona; Judith Jördens (28 April 2014). "THE MOROCCAN FLIC-FLAC SPIDER: A GYMNAST AMONG THE ARACHNIDS". Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung. Retrieved 23 May 2015.
  5. ^
    doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3790.2.4
  6. ^
    doi:10.1007/978-3-642-34682-8
  7. ^ Im Gespräch: Ingo Rechenberg über eine neu entdeckte Art Rollende Spinnen für den Mars. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, p. 7. January 10, 2009.
  8. doi:10.5531/db.iz.0001
    Retrieved 28 July 2014.
  9. ^ Hays, Brooks (6 May 2014). Robot mimics cartwheel movement of desert spider. United Press International. Retrieved 18 July 2014.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Cebrennus rechenbergi.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Cebrennus_rechenbergi&oldid=1126475237"