Golden Silk Orb Weaver
Trichonephila clavipes
Conservation
Least Concern
Habitat
Open spaces with high humidity, often along edges of clearings and forest trails.
Natural Range
North and South America
Activity
Diurnal
Diet
Carnivorous
Zoo Location
House of Bugs in the Children's Zoo
Fascinating Facts
The golden silk orb weaver has proven academically invaluable- producing a thread stronger than steel and tougher than Kevlar, plus its biodegradable! This has had many scientific applications, but because the silk is so strong and so thin, it has proven especially useful in nerve surgery experiments, where the filament silk can escort a neuron back to where it was severed in the body.