The diving bell spider or water spider, Argyroneta aquatica, is the only species of spider known to live entirely under water. However it breathes air, which it traps in a bubble held by hairs on its abdomen and legs.Females build underwater "diving bell" webs which they fill with air and use for digesting prey, molting, mating and raising offspring. They live almost entirely within the bells, darting out to catch prey animals that touch the bell or the silk threads that anchor it. However they have to surface occasionally to renew their personal air supplies and those of their webs. Males also build bells, but these are smaller and the males replenish their bells' oxygen supply less often.
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