Some spiders (one in particular) don't need oxygen? - read details please!?

Question

Now see here friends.

I took a cup of water, put it to the ceiling and caught this spider in it. This was 6 minutes ago, and this little dude is still struggling. Periodically he coils up and seems dead, but then he starts moving around again struggling.

As I write this, it's been 9 minutes now. And mind you, the water was very cold too - and I put liquid hand soap in it too. He won't die!

It's a brown spider with tan legs - about 1/2 inch (l) x 1/2 inch (w) x 1/4 inch (h).

Will he die? I even tried going to wikipedia and they seem to have multiple respiration pathways, but still - it's still kickin'.

Thanks for interesting and helpful info for this curious topic.

Answer 1

no way because all human or animal in the world need oxygen to live. . .

thank you

Answer 2

if he goes a full twenty mins... let him go outside, he deserves it

Answer 3

Great question, and an admirable curiosity, but you're right that it may be better to ask first before trying out experiments on live animals.

It is true that all animals, including spiders, need oxygen to live (some organisms outside the animal kingdom, as has been pointed out, can survive without oxygen).  Note, however, that being underwater is not the same as being without oxygen--fish, of course, breath the oxygen out of the water.  Some spider-like creatures can do this too, notably the horseshoe crab (which despite its name, is a relative of spiders), and some mites or ticks.  

True spiders, order Araneae, all breath air.  However even among these, there are some that live underwater.  The diving bell spider carries a supply of air underwater and spends most of its life there.  

Finally, like most creatures, spiders can hold their breath just like people.  How long depends on species, but it may be a long while.

Answer 4

Is it submerged underwater or is it on the surface?

If it's on the surface, then it isn't out of air. Rather, it is more likely that it is struggling with the cohesive forces of the water. He will eventually die but more likely out of exhaustion and starvation.

Spiders and insects are not warm-blooded and do not require certain set body temperatures. They do, however, require temperatures where their blood (yes they do have blood though it's not red) remains in liquid form for circulation.

Do please release the poor thing outdoors. Spiders are the nice insects that devour up the other nastier ones.