Toughest Biological Material Known
Spider's Silk
Darwin's bark spider (Caerostris darwini) is an extraordinary species of orb-weaving spider found in Madagascar. Discovered in 2009, it has garnered significant attention due to its remarkable silk and unique web-building behaviors. The spider has attracted interest from scientists due to the exceptional properties of its silk.
Research into this spider's silk could potentially lead to advances in materials science, including the development of new, super-strong synthetic fibers for various applications.
Some key facts
Tensile Strength: The silk produced by Darwin's bark spider is the toughest biological material known, with a tensile strength that is more than ten times stronger than Kevlar. This makes it the strongest spider silk discovered so far.
Elasticity
Besides its strength, the silk is also incredibly elastic, allowing it to absorb significant amounts of energy without breaking. Large Orb Webs: Darwin's bark spiders build enormous orb-shaped webs, often spanning over rivers and streams. These webs can measure up to 2.8 square meters (30 square feet) in area.
Bridging Lines:
The spider uses long bridging lines to anchor its web across wide gaps. These lines can reach up to 25 meters (82 feet) in length, making them the longest known silk lines used in web construction by any spider.
Habitat:
This spider is found in Madagascar, typically in humid rainforest areas where it can anchor its webs between trees over bodies of water.
Diet
The large webs are efficient at capturing a wide range of flying insects, which the spider preys upon. Its location over water may help in capturing more prey, as many insects are attracted to water sources.