Happy Spiders

Known as the Happy Face Spider, the Theridion grallator supposedly wears a face on its body to discourage birds from eating it.  I'm not sure I know any birds that have coulrophobia (fear of clowns) but there's just something about this spider that might make a bird stop in mid-peck long enough for the spider to get away.

Photo by: Darlyne Murawski   Source:  National Geographic

While the above picture makes this spider appear fairly large, it is actually not even an inch long.  So how can a bird see the design, if the spider is so small?  The grallator part of its name means 'stilt walker' and for the size of its body, it does have pretty long legs.

This species is only found in Hawaii.  The spiders on different islands have different designs on their bodies (and some have none at all) and the design can change depending what the spider last ate for dinner.

Source:  Daily Mail

Don't know if the happy face spider makes you smile or just creeps you out.