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- Researchers in China studied Toxeus magnus, a species of jumping spider, and discovered that its mothers nursed babies with their own secreted “milk.”
- The milk has about four times the amount of protein typically found in cow’s milk.
- Scientists believe the female spiders developed this ability in response to food shortages that normallly occur from harsh living conditions.
Despite their creepy, crawly appearance, some species of spiders make for exceptionally caring parents. Even more impressive, the jumping spider nurses its young much like mammals do, feeding their spiderlings nutritious milk packed with four times the amount of protein found in cows milk, according to a study published today in the journal Science.
Surprised? You’re not alone. Researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences first became interested in the odd behavior of Toxeus magnus when they noticed the spiders nest in the same way ants do, creating a space home to several spiders at a time.See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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