Norm Platnick, Kefyn Catley, and Vladimir Ovtsharenko are Museum scientists working in Australia on a project funded by a PEET Program Grant from the National Science Foundation.

  


Here at the Museum, we believe learning about species is important to the world. That's why we send scientists to places like Australia to learn about Earth's biodiversity. Every new species we discover could give us:

  • an idea for making a new medicine
  • a possibility for growing better food crops
  • a better understanding of the species' role in keeping its habitat healthy
 


We all depend on Earth's species for the things we need. Learning about the species helps us take better care of them and their habitats.

Three of our scientists are studying spiders in Australia. They sent this notebook page and some spider specimens for you. See if you can answer the scientists' questions:

1. Fangs are spiders' deadly weapons. But they could become farmers' secret weapons! Spiders could "work" in farmers' fields, eating bugs that damage crops. What do spider fangs look like?

  
 

2. Spiders spin webs made of silk-the strongest material known. Studying spider silk helps scientists create light, strong fabrics. A bulletproof vest made of silk? Maybe! Can you find a drawing of "spinnerets," the parts of a spider that spin silk?

 


3. Hundreds of spider species live in the Australian desert. The venom of some of these species can treat strokes and nervous disorders! The white-tailed spider is one such species. Can you spot two of these specimens here? (Hint: Find a clue in the name.)
 

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