this post was submitted on 01 Jul 2025
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Science Memes

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[–] Eyedust@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 6 days ago

My ADHD brain counting all the legs on these mfers for the past five minutes...

[–] cholesterol@lemmy.world 2 points 6 days ago

I could be an ant.

[–] TankovayaDiviziya@lemmy.world 1 points 6 days ago

No, I'm not ant.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 0 points 6 days ago

Plot Twist All actual ant species are derived from antcestor that was simply mimicking another species, and so thus all ants are total frauds.

Good thing I don't come from an evolutionary branch like that!

[–] jqubed@lemmy.world 39 points 1 week ago (5 children)

Spider-Ant
Spider-Ant
Does whatever a spider can

[–] Grandwolf319@sh.itjust.works 41 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Except jump

Cause it would be sus

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemmy.zip 26 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Among ants be like 'Did Carl just casually jump 20 stories high like it was nothing??'

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[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 33 points 1 week ago

It's lucky for them ants can't count. "...seven, eight legs?? Wait a minute!"

[–] Fleur_@aussie.zone 29 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The skinwalkers are among us

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 6 days ago (1 children)

imagine if a species of lemur evolved to broadly look like us, but still with lemur faces and stuff

that's basically what's happening for ants, terrifying

[–] tigeruppercut@lemmy.zip 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

I don't think ants see very well, so it'd prob be more like lemurs that look exactly like us, but smell like ozone and old grease.

[–] ArsonButCute@lemmy.dbzer0.com 11 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Note to self - automotive mechanics may be lemurs, High voltage electricians certainly are

[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 26 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Bottom left is definitely a spider. I count 8 legs and can see the distinct segmentation of a spider body. Though, really, just dat fat ass gives it away.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemmy.zip 43 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

... arent they all spiders?

(Besides the leggies & butts, eyes are also an ez clue.)

[–] Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world 34 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (11 children)

I think so, too. They all seem to have eight legs, more than two eyes, which don't look like compound eyes, a cephalothorax/two body segments rather than three, a lack of antennae, etc. It would probably be easier to tell looking at them head-on so we could see their chelicerae.

Edit: turns out the pedipalps are more of a giveaway.

Man, I wish spiders didn't creep me out so much. They're very cool, but my ancient lizard brain isn't having it.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

Get a pet jumping spider. They don't eat much, don't need a large enclosure, you can handle them, and their venom is not significant to humans (they don't really bite anyway).

My partner has two of them on her desk, and catching them exploring or sunning themselves is a little happiness boost every time.

Here is one chilling out.

[–] Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Thanks for the suggestion. I just might do that. They're very cute.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Fair warning, they have the same problem as rats... They live just long enough for you to get really attached to them. Lifespans are about 1 year for males, and up to 3 for females.

But, if you like them, you can always get a tarantula, which can live much longer.

[–] Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Hmm. I do think I'd make a good, unusually benevolent, eldrich god. On the other hand, I still miss my beta fish that died 5 years ago. No telling how I'd react to the rise and fall of a spider family line, dozens of generations in length.

Tarantulas are cool, but I'd worry about dropping it. I know they typically don't bite, and that their bites aren't dangerous. Still, I don't know if I could relate to it positively after that. It's not rational. I've gotten mild dog bites and cat scratches from pets playing too rough, and those are much more dangerous. Tarantulas still pas the cuteness test, but I think the spider bias affects them more than jumping spiders.

I don't think I've ever been uncomfortable having a jumping spider on me unexpectedly. It's fun to watch them hunt. Watching the retinas in their big eyes move to track things is fun. It makes them seem more like adorable cartoon characters.

[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

I know they typically don’t bite, and that their bites aren’t dangerous.

Fair warning, they may not be "dangerous", but from the tarantula breeders I've talked to, some can "pack a whallop" which to me means painful as all fuck.

Good to know. I definitely don't want that. I should just go see a migration and enjoy them from a safe distance.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 week ago (9 children)

Omg, at least it's alive in your pic, ty <3.

And yes, we are hardwired for some memetics about spider-looking things, but being amazed by them, understanding them biologically, & perhaps a bit of co-living (about as close to befriending them without them being "a pet" & still independent - you know, just seeing & saying hi to Clara every day, watching the life of a begin with ups & downs) may adapt how the association network in your brainhole is used.
(Just guessing.)

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[–] Kolanaki@pawb.social 12 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

They are all spiders, but if it hadn't said they were all spiders I could have still just looked at that guy with little scrutiny and went "wait a minute..." He looks the least ant-like.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemmy.zip 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Oh, yeah, true - but I don't know what species of ants it's mimicking. Perhaps that's just how they look too & now we are body-shaming ants for looking too spidery ('sup, you 6-legged no-neck with that thicc ass') :D.

It seems like it's Myrmarachne maxillosa, very snooty thing.

It's prob mimicking a puppy or something.

Here is one desperately trying to toucha the butt of another:

As for who they are copypastaing:

It probably mimics the Common Spiny Ants of the genus Polyharchis.

Yeah, these ants indeed have a dump truck:

(And these ~~horny~~ spiny ants do come in way more spinier flavours, pretty metal.)

[–] Remember_the_tooth@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago (1 children)

It's prob mimicking a puppy or something.

Why would you put that uncensored comment out here for us to see? Now I'm going to have nightmares as if directed by John Capenter about spiders that look exactly like puppies to humans until they attack.

They are most dangerous on Halloween, by the way:

Stay vigilant. Do not become a statisic.

[–] Evil_Shrubbery@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Why would you put that uncensored comment out here for us to see? Now I'm going to have nightmares as if directed by John Capenter about spiders that look exactly like puppies to humans until they attack.

Ohhhh, that's a really cool & outstanding thought!
(With a satisfying explanation for the biological size limits ofc. It can just be "magic", idk, the idea is too nice to be cockblocked by a plot hole.)

It would be even funnier if the arachnids lost some original traits in favour of mimicry & their new environments (like the jumping spoders in this post lost the jumping part for their ant masquerade).

Not the jumping, but like the way of life - they just figured dogs have it too good when bonded to nice humans so some jumping-dog spiders just decide they want to be pets and they cuddle & fetch their entire lives (sure the humans might find it suspect how many live snacks they have to feed their pupper, or how no smol animals seem to hang around the house, but that's not that different to being owned by a cat).

Also nothing beats the feeling of a happy jumping-dog spider jump-hugging you when you get home with all its weight.

(There is also the funny looks the first time you take your dog to the vet. Or how it builds it own beds out of the nicest silky material you've ever seen. Or how you've seen it jump from the ground after a squirrel ... that was on the very top of a very tall three.)

Also jumping-dog spiders - kings of puppy-eyes look!

The mammal head tilt still needs some (evolutionary) work tho:

- 'Does it bite?'
- 'Almost never, but it will cocoon people that it dislikes.'

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 14 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I saw in a documental a snake which fools ants, but not to eat these, but to use these as bait for fooling lizards, which are the real prey for the snake.

  • The snake buried itself in the sand, leaving only the tail point, imitating a tan of grass
  • This attracts the ant
  • This in turn attracts the lizard who wants to eat the ant
  • End of the lizard

Evolution games

Jumping spiders are anywayvery smart for catching their prey, even without the need to disguise their aspect, analyzing the situation and adjust their strategy.

[–] Bishma@discuss.tchncs.de 13 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Evolution to spiders: We've decided to combine your head and thorax.

Some jumping spiders: Nah

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[–] friendly_ghost@beehaw.org 11 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Imagine trying to hide an entire pair of legs when you're hanging out with ants

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 4 points 6 days ago (1 children)

"ohoho no! these aren't legs, they're pedipalps! mmm, pedipalps to help me eat!"

[–] I_am_10_squirrels@beehaw.org 4 points 6 days ago

What big pedipalps you have, great aunt!

[–] rizzothesmall@sh.itjust.works 11 points 1 week ago

I could be violet sky

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