The tarantula spider is a large arthropod that is increasingly being kept at home by exotic lovers. A pressing question arises: why is the spider called that? The tarantula got its name at the end of the 18th century, when a team of scientists discovered a large spider in the tropical forests of Venezuela that ate hummingbirds.
Then, impressed by what happened, Maria Merian, a member of the expedition, depicted this situation on paper. Soon the sketch appeared on the pages of newspapers, the animals gained popularity and an appropriate name.
Description and features
Let's look at what an unusual tarantula spider looks like. It is distinguished by long limbs covered with shaggy hairs and a rich color, the intensity of which increases after each molt. Most often the animals are gray or brown in color, but there are individuals of black and bright blue.
The body structure of the tarantula spider is represented by a cephalothorax and abdomen, connected by a small bridge. The chitin exoskeleton prevents mechanical damage and reduces moisture loss, which is especially important in arid regions. The cephalothorax is covered with a solid carapace, on the front of which there are 4 pairs of eyes.
The organs of the reproductive and digestive systems are located on the abdomen. Here you can see 2 – 6 pairs of spider appendages. Spiders have 12 limbs:
- 8 are paws;
- 2 – chelicerae, used for hunting, digging burrows, defense, and moving caught prey. They also contain poisonous glands;
- 2 – pedipalps, perform a tactile function.
Arthropods detect odors and sounds using sensitive hairs located on their paws.
The size of tarantulas varies depending on the species. Taking into account the legs, the animal’s body reaches 25–28 cm, with females noticeably larger than males. On average, the weight of spiders is 60–85 g; large species living in Venezuela and Brazil sometimes weigh up to 150 g or more. Thus, the mass of a male goliath tarantula is 170 g.
Lifestyle
The Goliath tarantula leads a solitary and nocturnal lifestyle. It is a terrestrial spider, since due to its large weight it does not climb trees.
On this topic, you may be interested in: Brachypelma Spider, description, maintenance and care
Despite the fact that the spider has eight eyes, it has poor vision, no ears and does not perceive smells. Its olfactory organs are its hairs, which cover its entire body. Thanks to vibrations from the hairs, he manages to successfully hunt and avoid danger. Thanks to them, he receives information about the size of prey nearby.
This species, unlike most spiders, can make hissing sounds when danger arises. This hissing can be heard at a distance of up to 15 meters.
In case of danger, the spider begins to hiss loudly, rub the hair on its body with its hind legs, throwing it into the air; if this does not help, it stands on its hind legs and shows its fangs.
What does a tarantula spider eat?
Based on the name, it can be assumed that spiders exist solely by eating birds. In reality, these arthropods' digestive systems are unable to regularly digest poultry meat. Such cases do occur, but they are quite rare. The diet of adults consists mainly of insects, small arachnids, and sometimes their own relatives.
The tarantula feeds on the same thing as other predators - other animals. He goes hunting and ambushes his prey. For capture, traps made of cobwebs are pre-prepared.
Spiders' main diet consists of frogs, small rodents, birds, locusts, and crickets. Sometimes the tarantula manages to feast on fish or snakes, as well as smaller prey: flies, cockroaches, mosquitoes, bloodworms.
Behavior in the wild
Arthropods hunt prey in trees, on the ground, and in burrows. They are capable of producing a protein-crystalline substance and weaving a web. But more often, predators lie in wait for the prey and attack it. They use cobwebs to strengthen burrows and nests and provide faster ascent and descent along it to their home.
Behavior can change throughout life. Larvae spend most of their time in burrows, while adults are busy searching for food and consuming it on the surface.
Tarantulas have natural enemies. Hawk wasps paralyze the arthropod and then drag it into their burrow. The insect lays eggs in the stomach of the victim and seals them. The hatched larvae feed on the remains of the spider. Representatives of mygalomorphs are attacked by predatory scolopendras, scorpions, and spiders of the genus Lycosidae.
Lifespan
It is important for people who decide to keep this animal at home to know how long tarantula spiders live in captivity. Females, regardless of conditions, can live up to 30 years. As for males, their life expectancy is much shorter. They usually stop molting after reaching reproductive age, in most cases they die in the same year or after mating.
When maintaining a home, it is important to choose an arthropod suitable nutrition system and optimal temperature. If fed infrequently, the spider will live longer. Cold causes the metabolism to slow down, so the birder's development will slow down.
They are able to regenerate lost limbs during the molting process.
Many tarantulas molt, constantly shedding old skin and producing new ones, just as representatives of the snake kingdom do. Tarantulas sometimes use molting to regenerate lost limbs.
When a limb is lost, the tarantula increases fluid pressure in the body in order to tear off part of the shell. Fluid is then pumped into the limb, causing the old skin to come off and new skin to be created in the shape of the lost limb. The mold is filled with liquid until it becomes solid. After this, the tarantula regenerates the lost part of the shell. This process can take several hours. All this time, the spider is in a particularly vulnerable state due to the presence of open parts of the body that have a rubber texture.
Types of tarantulas
The spider family includes many representatives, including 13 subfamilies with a large number of varieties. In total, scientists count about 143 species of tarantulas. All of them have characteristic features, but some varieties are distinguished by their original appearance, and therefore are worthy of a detailed description.
Goliath tarantula
This animal has become widely known due to its impressive size. Taking into account the legs, the body length reaches 28 cm. Until recently, the goliath was considered the largest spider on the planet. But at the very beginning of the 21st century, Heteropoda maxima was discovered - a species belonging to the same order, the body size is a couple of centimeters larger than that of the goliath.
The spider is brown in color, sometimes with light or red tints. Distributed in the swamps of South America. This is the largest representative of tarantulas, the weight of males reaches 170 g.
Black and white Brazilian tarantula spider
The animals are inferior in size to the goliath, body length is no more than 23 cm. Distinctive features are rapid growth and striking black and white color. The nature of the spider is aggressive and unpredictable. Often arthropods hide under the roots of trees or among stones, and from time to time they crawl out into the open.
Metallic (woody) tarantula
Distributed in the southern regions of India. Among its relatives, this representative does not stand out at all in size, since it grows only up to 21 cm. Its color is very interesting - the body and legs are bright blue with a metallic tint, as if decorated with fascinating patterns. The spider looks like some kind of fantastic creature that attracts attention with its extraordinary beauty.
Metallic tarantulas prefer to form small groups and settle among old rotten trees.
Brachypelma Smitha
Found in Mexico, South America and Australia. The size of spiders does not exceed 17 cm. The colors can be varied: dark brown or black with the addition of orange and red tones, sometimes there is a white or yellow border. The hair on the body turns light pink.
Smith's brachypelma are calm in nature and their venom is non-toxic. As they grow older, after molting, the color of the spiders changes.
Pink Chilean tarantula
This species of arthropod is considered one of the most attractive. It is not surprising that this is what arachnid lovers dream of having at home.
The size of the body together with the paws reaches 26 cm. The color contains various shades of brown: brown, chestnut, and in places there are pink hairs. A lot of light hairs grow on the paws and body.
The pink Chilean tarantula lives in the southwestern part of America, found in the Atacami Desert. When keeping at home, it is important to maintain a suitable temperature regime: during the day +25ºС, at night - at least +20ºС with an air humidity of 60%. Females can live 15–20 years. The nature of the animals is peaceful, calm, and friendly.
Diet
The tarantula is an obligate predator. Despite its name and ability to chew food, the animal's body cannot constantly consume poultry meat. The basis of the diet of all representatives of mygalomorphs is large insects and other arthropods, such as millipedes and other spiders.
Arthropods are fairly omnivorous and can feed on a variety of foods: frogs, mice, worms. Armed with their powerful chelicerae with long, chitinous fangs, tarantulas are well adapted for killing other large arthropods. The largest representatives of mygalomorphs kill and consume small vertebrates.
Birds
If you look at arthropods in the wild, birds occupy a small percentage of the total diet. Small representatives do not consume birds at all.
Protostomes received their specific name thanks to one of the expedition members. A group of scientists stumbled upon an unusually large arthropod eating hummingbirds. In reality, the spider eats birds very rarely. As a rule, arachnids eat chicks. If you accidentally stumble upon a nest.
Small rodents
Arachnids are mostly nocturnal. At this time of day, mice are also active. Many spiders, like rodents, live in burrows. When in danger, the animals seek shelter and stumble upon the lair of an arthropod that is waiting for the victim. All he has to do is bite her and start eating.
Larger members, such as Theraphosa blondi, feed on bats.
Insects
Birdcatchers eat grasshoppers, cockroaches, crickets, and butterflies. More precisely, this is the main diet. Insects live everywhere, especially crawling, running and jumping ones, and less often flying species.
Fish
Aquatic vertebrates are included in the diet of only medium and large tarantulas. To grind fish bones, you need strong and large pedipalps and chelicerae. But even large individuals hunt only for fry, which swim to the shore in flocks.
Amphibians
Representatives of the genus Acanthoscuria eat toads and lizards. Some amphibians can defend themselves and release poison when threatened. The spider is a cautious animal, so it rarely hunts these representatives of the fauna.
Habitat of tarantula spiders
Different species of animals are found in a variety of geographical areas and conditions. Some members of the family prefer arid regions or even deserts.
There are species of tarantulas that live in tropical equatorial forests with high humidity levels.
Tree spiders are found on the branches and crowns of trees and shrubs. There they weave a web and roll it into a tube, making a nest. Others settle exclusively on the ground, where they can also find a safe shelter.
Many species independently dig their own burrows that go deep into the soil. The entrance to the home is carefully covered with cobwebs. It is worth noting that only adult individuals settle at altitude; young animals lead a terrestrial lifestyle.
Tarantulas spend almost all their time in a well-equipped nest. They come out only to search for prey or mate. It is important to take this feature into account, since if kept at home it will not be possible to regularly monitor the animal.
A substrate is placed at the bottom of the terrarium; coconut bark is most often used. Its quantity should be enough to create a deep hole, which the tarantula will dig on its own. Snags or tree branches must be placed in the substrate. To create these conditions, you will need a vertical terrarium with a width twice the size of the spider.
The tarantula is fed at night, because that’s when it hunts. This way the owner will not disturb the natural biorhythms of the animal.
Reproduction
Arthropods reproduce throughout the year. Sometimes it is interesting to observe the behavior of spiders. The male gracefully taps his paws in front of the female's home to attract attention. If the female is ready for mating, she allows her partner to approach her.
After some time, the female constructs a cocoon in her hole, in which she lays up to a hundred eggs. Scientists noticed one interesting fact. The babies hatch after ten weeks and immediately after birth they scatter in different directions.
The dimensions of small spiders reach 20 centimeters in length. The males die soon after fertilization.
Danger to humans
Tarantulas do not threaten the health and life of their owner. But when carrying out any activities to care for your pet, you must adhere to precautions. All species of spiders are poisonous to one degree or another. If we talk about non-poisonous species, then we mean a low degree of toxicity of the poison.
An animal bite leads to the death of small rodents. There have been recorded cases of domestic cats dying due to spiders. The bite is likely to be dangerous to the health of young children.
Females in the active stage of motherhood show increased aggression. But in other cases it is impossible to predict the reaction of an arthropod to any, even the most harmless, actions. That is why it is not recommended to touch them with your hands. Before purchasing a tarantula, you need to acquire a special terrarium, as well as long tweezers for carrying out all kinds of manipulations.
Whether the venom is toxic or not depends on the type of spider. For an adult, the danger of a tarantula bite will be equal to a wasp sting: a burning pain is felt and swelling appears. With increased sensitivity of the body to toxins, an increase in body temperature, fainting, muscle cramps, vomiting and even mental disorders are observed. When a tarantula bites through the skin, venom is not always injected; most often, so-called “dry” bites occur.
The danger comes from the hairs covering the legs and body of the arthropod. When under stress, the spider is able to quickly pull out fibers with its paws, trying to throw them to the enemy.
When hairs come into contact with human skin, they cause burns and allergic reactions. Contact with the mucous membrane of the eyes causes severe burning and itching that does not go away for several hours, and in some cases, days. Sometimes toxins lead to deterioration in the quality of vision for the rest of your life.
The tarantula spider really poses a danger to humans. If the potential owner of such a “pet” animal is not afraid of a health threat, the exotic appearance of the arthropod is not repulsive, but attracts, you can safely keep it at home. But at the same time, we must not forget about the rules of keeping a pet and safety precautions.
Folk remedies for bites
What to do if a spider bite happens far from civilization, when you can’t get to the nearest populated area even in a couple of days?
To relieve unpleasant symptoms and speed up wound healing, you can use traditional medicine methods:
- Rinse the affected area with a solution - 1 teaspoon of vinegar per glass of water.
- Dilute baking soda with water to a paste and apply to the inflamed area.
- Wipe with lemon juice.
- Apply shaving foam for 5 minutes and rinse with cold water.
- Apply aloe leaves.
After reading the presented review, many will wonder: is it possible to avoid a spider bite? To reduce the likelihood of an attack to a minimum, it is enough to follow some recommendations:
Do not try to catch or hit the arthropod. Keep your home clean, not bypassing the most hidden corners. Once in nature, check your shoes and clothes, and keep your sleeping bags and tents closed. When going out of town, stock up on repellent sprays and creams. In the summer, close doors tightly and equip windows with mosquito nets.
In most cases, everything is limited to a local reaction, which goes away within a few days. Although no one is safe from meeting a dangerous individual
In order to promptly and competently respond to the consequences of a bite, it is important to equip your home first aid kit with everything you need, and when going into nature, take an “alarm suitcase” with you.
Interesting Facts
The tarantula spider is a popular animal that attracts people with its large size and original appearance. There is a lot of interesting information about these amazing creatures:
- Spiders do not experience a sense of affection, so when kept at home, you should not think that the animal is attached to its owner and loves him.
- It is impossible to train a tarantula and also be completely sure of the absence of aggression on its part.
- Even the most calm and balanced individuals bite their own owners from time to time.
- Females are larger in size than males.
- Many females devour males after mating.
- Females live longer, up to 30 years, so they are more expensive.
- Females lay approximately 2,000 eggs, which are placed in a cocoon of spider webs and hatch after 1 to 3 months.
- The terrarium with the spider should always be closed with a tight lid. If there are children at home, it is necessary to use a lock, this will protect the child from an accident.
- Spiders are representatives of a separate class, so it is not entirely correct to classify them as insects.
- Tarantulas are the largest spiders in the world.
- Animals use an original method of protection from enemies - blinding by a stream of feces.
- Arthropods are capable of not eating food for more than 2 years.
- Some species are excellent swimmers and divers;
- To treat the fear of spiders (arachnophobia), experts recommend that patients keep tarantulas in their homes to overcome the disease on their own. According to statistics, the technique brings positive results.
Before purchasing a bird catcher, you need to think about the burden of responsibility that will lie on the owner of such a pet. The animal is a long-livers and needs care and proper care.
Tarantula spider
Black widow bite
The habitat of this individual is the territory of the United States. Female black widows are poisonous and of impressive size. The body length is more than one and a half centimeters, and the paw span exceeds 5 centimeters. On the back there is a pattern characteristic of this individual, reminiscent of an hourglass. Color red.
The males of this species are much smaller in size and can be identified by the white spot on their back. No bites from males were recorded. Based on this, we can conclude that they are absolutely harmless to humans. They do not have an organ that produces poison that does not allow them to cause harm. Female black widows are hunters and protect the offspring they lay. If they feel the slightest danger, they immediately attack the enemy. They paralyze the victim with poison. After a black widow bite, you only feel a slight prick, like a needle.
Any signs of a bite appear much later, when the poison has already been transported throughout the body. Moreover, everyone can have their own individual manifestations from a bite. Most often this is sweating and pus in the damaged area. Children and the elderly suffer most from black widow attacks. In any case, you should immediately consult a doctor for help, as there is an antidote. After administering a special medicine, which must be administered within a few hours, the poison is neutralized.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=Bh-1CZtiUTE
Treatment
What to do if you are bitten by a spider? If the victim indicates pain in the head or discomfort in the limbs, he is given any painkiller. The greatest activity is observed in a number of medications.
- Analgesics, antispasmodics - Baralgin, Maksigan, Analgin, Spazmalgon.
- Non-steroidal drugs that relieve inflammation - Nurofen, Nimesulide.
- Products containing paracetamol - Efferalgan, Panadol.
If the drugs presented are not available, the patient is given Acetylsalicylic acid.
Take an antihistamine:
- Zodak;
- Suprastin;
- Cetrin;
- Loratadine.
Loratadine
Due to a sharp rise in blood pressure, it is recommended to take an antihypertensive drug to normalize well-being.
- Enap.
- Captopril.
- Indapamide.
In the hospital, a detoxification course is carried out using internal solutions. This will quickly eliminate the toxin, preventing serious complications.
