Poisonous tarantula: photo and description, habitat, toxin danger

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

Among the so-called wolf spiders, there are truly amazing species. One of the most interesting and at the same time dangerous is the tarantula. These large spiders scare many, but there are also amateurs who keep them in aquariums. They look incredibly beautiful to them. It is noteworthy that not so long ago, science proved that a poisonous tarantula does not pose a deadly threat to humans, but many still fear it. This is due to the intimidating appearance of the spider. Even in the photo, poisonous tarantulas look menacing. Although their bite is not lethal, it usually causes a fever in humans. An interesting fact is that these creatures never attack first. They only use their bites for defensive purposes.

In this article we will look at a photo of a poisonous tarantula spider, its habitat and features of life in the wild.

Features and general description of the tarantula

In the body of a spiderthe cephalothorax with a fleecy surface and the head stand out especially. The poisonous tarantula has four pairs of eyes, thanks to which it can see everything around. Its body has a dark brown or rich black color. In addition, spots and stripes of orange can be traced on it. The size of the poisonous tarantula differs depending on the territory in which it lives. Individuals living on the European continent can reach 3-4 centimeters.

In order to understand what the largest poisonous tarantulas look like, you need to pay attention to the individuals that live in America. Their size can reach 10 centimeters, and the span of their paws is 30. They are considered the largest tarantulas in the world.

Spiders have two fangs and eight legs. On each of them are small claws, thanks to which the spider can move on any surface. It is noteworthy that the body of a poisonous tarantula is covered with hairy cover. It performs a protective function. If a predator touches this cover, it starts to itch.

An equally interesting feature of these spiders is their silk thread, with which they protect their territory. The tarantula is able to pick up the slightest vibration when enemies or potential prey approach. When a spider feels threatened, it hides. If the tarantula senses the victim, then he will hide in an ambush and wait until she approaches the required distance.

The life expectancy of males is always less than that of females. This is due to the fact that females after mating eat partners. In this case, the offspring receivemore chances of survival, as the female is full. According to scientists, the survival rate of these creatures is very low. Many die from predators in their first year of life.

Whether venomous or not, the tarantula is often a beloved pet in many parts of the world. As a rule, spiders are kept in specially equipped aquariums and fed with animal food. In the wild, these invertebrates prefer to live in deserts, rainforests, and grasslands. To date, tarantulas are common on all continents of the planet. The exception is Antarctica.

Tarantula lifestyle

These spiders mostly live in burrows. They can be seen almost everywhere, but most often - on the mountain slopes. The depth of such holes sometimes reaches more than sixty centimeters. It is noteworthy that tarantulas mask the entrance to their home. Often at the entrance you can see a small roller, which partially hides the opening of the hole.

Tarantulas are nocturnal and sleep in their dwellings during the day. When winter comes, the spiders seal the entrance to the burrow. This is done with the help of plants and cobwebs. The tarantula spends the whole winter in a hole, and with the onset of spring it comes out.

Reproduction

The mating period of tarantulas falls on summer time. At this point, the males go in search of a partner. It is noteworthy that the search is not always successful. Often the female will eat the male when he comes into her field of vision.

Woduring the meeting, the males produce vibrations with the help of the abdomen and fangs. This is how they show their intentions. If the female is not against mating, then she begins to mirror all the movements of the male. When the mating process is completed, the female often eats the partner. After that, the fertilized female goes into hibernation, which takes place in a sealed hole.

It comes out only in the spring. At the same time, eggs are formed in her abdomen. She puts them on the web. At one time, the female is able to lay up to 400 eggs. When the eggs reach their maturity, she equips a cocoon in which she puts them. She wears it on herself until she feels the first movements of the cubs. As soon as this happens, she gnaws a hole in the cocoon and helps the babies to get out.

It is noteworthy that the cubs do not leave the mother immediately. They are located on her back and stay there until they can feed on their own. After that, the female bypasses her territory and scatters her babies over it.

The lifespan of a tarantula

The number of years this spider can live depends on its variety and territory. So, for example, the Aphonopelma species, which lives on the American continent, is able to live up to 30 years. This is the maximum possible number for tarantulas. Other species live from 5 to 10 years.

Food

The tarantula is a formidable predator for all insects and animals,smaller than him. Hunting takes place at night. In this case, the spider does not go far from its home. When the victim is caught, the tarantula drags it into the hole and eats it already there. The very process of eating these spiders is unusual. The tarantula has absolutely no teeth, so it pierces a hole in its prey with fangs, and then injects a special substance into it. It dissolves all the internal organs of the victim, and the tarantula calmly sucks out the contents.

Toxin Danger

The poisonousness of tarantulas has long been known. But its degree was clearly exaggerated. Scientists believe that many cases of severe poisoning, among which the death of people was noted, did not come from the bites of a tarantula, but of a black widow. Tarantula, as a rule, is a mortal danger only for small animals. For an ordinary person, its sting is approximately equivalent to a bee sting: slight swelling, numbness, less often fever, but no more.

Some interesting facts about tarantulas

With a rather creepy appearance, these creatures have a very peaceful disposition. At the same time, all the people's fear of spiders is formed by numerous horror films in which tarantulas can often be seen.

The largest spider of this species ever recorded in nature was the size of an average dinner plate.

The name "tarantula" these invertebrates received in honor of the city of Tarento, which is located in Italy. In this city, this type of spider was first discovered in huge quantities.