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Argyroneta Aquatica

Short answer: The diving bell spider, Argyroneta aquatica, is generally described as the only spider that spends almost its whole life underwater. It lives in ponds and slow, plant-filled fresh water across Europe and northern Asia.

It spins a silk sheet among water plants and fills it with air to make a 'diving bell'. It carries the air down from the surface as a silvery film trapped by hairs on its abdomen and legs, which is why it looks silver underwater. Inside the bell it rests, eats prey and molts, and females lay their eggs there. In 2011, Roger Seymour and Stefan Hetz reported in the Journal of Experimental Biology that the bell also works as a physical gill. Oxygen dissolved in the water diffuses into the bubble as the spider uses it up. In their measurements, that inflow could meet a resting spider's oxygen needs, even in warm, stagnant water. Nitrogen slowly diffuses out, so the bell shrinks and has to be topped up. The spider can stay down for more than a day rather than surfacing every 20 to 40 minutes, as had been thought. The footage shows the spider underwater, its body coated in a silver air bubble, among water plants.

VideoWrite-up3 sources
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What should you know about Argyroneta Aquatica?

Quick facts. Each one stands alone and has a stable ID you can cite.

  1. The diving bell works like a physical gill.

    DD-670-F01 · Write-up · Exhibit C (A bubble that breathes)

  2. The spider can stay underwater for more than a day.

    DD-670-F02 · Write-up · Exhibit E (Longer dives)

Video transcript: Argyroneta Aquatica: A Spider With Its Own Air Tank

DID YOU KNOW? The diving bell spider or argyroneta aquatica, is the only known spider that lives almost entirely underwater, relying on a unique silk diving bell to survive. Found in freshwater habitats across Europe and northern Asia, it spins a dome-shaped web between aquatic plants and traps air bubbles from the surface. NOW YOU KNOW!

Burned-in captions, read frame by frame (see transcript.md) · 17.3s Reel ·

Video coming soonArgyroneta Aquatica · Instagram Reel
Argyroneta Aquatica: A Spider With Its Own Air Tank Instagram Reel · · 17.3s

The write-up

A spider with its own air tank. The diving bell spider's silk bubble works like a gill.

  1. Exhibit A

    An underwater spider

    Argyroneta aquatica lives almost its whole life underwater in European and northern Asian fresh water.

  2. Exhibit B

    Carrying air down

    It ferries air from the surface as a silvery film held by hairs on its body.

  3. Exhibit C

    A bubble that breathes

    Oxygen diffuses into the bell from the water, so it works like a physical gill.

  4. Exhibit D

    Topping up

    Nitrogen slowly diffuses out, so the bell shrinks and has to be refilled.

  5. Exhibit E

    Longer dives

    The spider can stay down for more than a day rather than surfacing every 20 to 40 minutes.

Questions people ask about Argyroneta Aquatica

What is Argyroneta aquatica's common name?

Named for its silk air bell.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (An underwater spider) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; The New York Times (Jun 14, 2011): The diving bell and the underwater spider

What does the diving bell act like?

Oxygen diffuses in from the water.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (An underwater spider) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; The New York Times (Jun 14, 2011): The diving bell and the underwater spider

Which gas slowly leaks out of the bell?

So the bell shrinks over time.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Topping up) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology

How long can the spider stay underwater?

Rather than every 20 to 40 minutes.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Carrying air down) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; Journal of Experimental Biology, Inside JEB (2011): How the water spider uses its diving bell

Where is the diving bell spider found?

In ponds and slow fresh water.

Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (An underwater spider) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; The New York Times (Jun 14, 2011): The diving bell and the underwater spider

Test Your Knowledge

All quizzes →

5 questions, all from this case file. Answers are revealed instantly.

  1. What is Argyroneta aquatica's common name?

    1. Diving bell spider
    2. Wolf spider
    3. Jumping spider
    4. Huntsman spider
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Diving bell spider Named for its silk air bell. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (An underwater spider) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; The New York Times (Jun 14, 2011): The diving bell and the underwater spider

  2. What does the diving bell act like?

    1. A physical gill
    2. A fishing net
    3. A parachute
    4. A boat
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. A physical gill Oxygen diffuses in from the water. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (An underwater spider) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; The New York Times (Jun 14, 2011): The diving bell and the underwater spider

  3. Which gas slowly leaks out of the bell?

    1. Nitrogen
    2. Helium
    3. Neon
    4. Chlorine
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Nitrogen So the bell shrinks over time. Source: Write-up · Exhibit D (Topping up) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology

  4. How long can the spider stay underwater?

    1. More than a day
    2. A few seconds
    3. Exactly one minute
    4. It can't go underwater
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. More than a day Rather than every 20 to 40 minutes. Source: Write-up · Exhibit B (Carrying air down) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; Journal of Experimental Biology, Inside JEB (2011): How the water spider uses its diving bell

  5. Where is the diving bell spider found?

    1. Europe and northern Asia
    2. Antarctica
    3. Only Australia
    4. The open ocean
    Show the answer

    Answer: A. Europe and northern Asia In ponds and slow fresh water. Source: Write-up · Exhibit A (An underwater spider) · Seymour & Hetz (2011): The diving bell and the spider, the physical gill of Argyroneta aquatica, Journal of Experimental Biology; The New York Times (Jun 14, 2011): The diving bell and the underwater spider

Cite this case file

Easterling, Marcus. "Argyroneta Aquatica." The Detail Department (DetailEnjoyer), case file DD-670, last updated Nov 7, 2025. https://detailenjoyer.com/case/argyroneta-aquatica/

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