From: Wikipedia: "Since the spider must breathe air, it traps a thin layer of air around its body using the hairs on its abdomen and legs. It also maintains an air reserve in a "diving bell" constructed from silk, which it anchors to an underwater plant. The appearance of the diving bell gave rise to the genus name Argyroneta, Latin for "silvery net". The spider can replenish the air in its bell by transporting air from the surface. However, frequent replenishment is unnecessary because the structure of the bell permits gas exchange with the surrounding water: oxygen is replenished and carbon dioxide expelled due to differences in osmotic pressure. This system has been referred to as "the water spider's aqua-lung of air bubbles," but it is actually more advanced than the real Aqualung, which needs to be refilled frequently with compressed air, not having the option of osmotic exchange."
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