to alert potential mates of their presence.

A team of Canadian researchers made the discovery that male black widow spiders move their backsides

rapidly, commonly referred to as twerking in human terms, when entering the web of a

female spider. (Via LiveScience)

But don't get the wrong idea, these male spiders aren't twerking because they think their female

counterparts are, ahem, looking for some action.

No, they're twerking it out because the females are more than twice their size and will eat

them if they don't send a gesture of good faith.

You see, female black widow spiders are not the friendliest of mates, even by spider standards,

so the male black widow sends friendly vibrations through the female's web to let her know he's

here to mate.

And it just so happens that, like in humans, the best way to do this is by shaking your

booty like there's no tomorrow. (Via E!)

And apparently, it's not just twerking it, but twerking it the right way that's key,

gentlemen.

LiveScience explains: "Strong vibrations sent the female spiders scurrying over in attack

mode. But little whispers simply got their attention ... some even responded with abdominal

twitches of their own."

So there you have it: for a male spider, it's twerk or be eaten.