Tetragnatha
Also known as long-jawed orb-weaver spiders or “stretch spiders” due to their long slender bodies, this is a genus of spider with hundreds of species that can be found all over the globe. Despite their somewhat intimidating appearance, these spiders are harmless to humans, and they play an important role in the ecosystem by feeding on small insects. They use their long jaws to catch prey and their long, thin bodies to avoid being detected by predators, and love hanging near and around water. Berkeley Evolab has found spectacular adaptive radiation of the endemic Tetragnatha in Hawaii, with a wide array of colors, shapes, sizes, behaviors, and ecological affinities not observed elsewhere in the range of this genus!
