[robotresearcher]

Which of these explanations seems more likely, in the context of a spider?

Spiders are very smart for their size (up to 80% of their body cavity is brain, and much larger than for insects), but giving them theory of mind is a stretch.

"That guy there wants to eat me. I look like this. If I make a thing that looks like me, he will think it's me and try to eat that, and I'll be safer."

vs. I just love to get bits of leaf and stick them just so!

[mirkules]

Sure, it's a stretch, I don't dispute that at all. Maybe a spider witnessed another spider being eaten, and since it was spared, decided to make another spider-looking thing so it doesn't get eaten again. It's not really a matter of self-recognition or theory of mind, but more of a pattern recognition, something spiders (I assume) are good at. "My friend was eaten, and I wasn't. I should make something that looks like my friend so I don't get eaten." But, then again, Occam's Razor and all that. :)

[Buttons840]

> "I should make something that looks like my friend."

I'm no expert, but the fact that spiders have 8 eyes suggests to me that they may, indeed, be good at recognizing visual patterns.

[takluyver]

The number of eyes isn't a particularly good guide. I'd guess most web-building spiders have quite poor detailed vision, as there's little need for it. Jumping spiders, which actively hunt prey, have good forward vision.