THE happy face spiders, which are found only on the islands of Oahu, Molokai, Maui and Hawaii in the Hawaiian archipelago, sport coloured markings on their backs that look like smiling faces. Each spider exhibits a unique pattern which is determined by the genes it carries. Spiders with different forms of smiles and even frowns on their abdomens can be seen on the islands.
Scientists believe the spiders have developed these markings to confuse birds, their only natural predators. The survival of the species, whose scientific name is Theridion Grallator, is threatened by large scale destruction of rainforests- its natural habitat, and introduction of foreign species on the islands.
Environmentalists have chosen the happy face spider to be the face of the conservation movement to protect Hawaii’s endangered wildlife. The 5-mm long arachnids appear on Tshirts, baseball caps, postcards and even removal trucks in the island archipelago.