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 lovers who keep them in aquariums. They seem incredibly beautiful to them. It is noteworthy that not so long ago, it was proved by science that a poisonous tarantula does not pose a mortal threat to humans, but many still fear it. This is due to the awesome appearance of the spider. Even in the photo, poisonous tarantulas look menacing. Although their bite is not lethal, in humans, as a rule, it causes fever. An interesting fact is that these creatures never attack first. They use bites for protective purposes only.
In this article we will consider a photo of the poisonous tarantula spider, its habitat and features of life in the wild.
Features and general description of the tarantula
In the body of the spider, the cephalothorax with a fleecy surface and the head stand out. The poisonous tarantula has four pairs of eyes, thanks to which it can see everything around. His body has a dark brown or saturated black color. In addition, spots and stripes of orange are visible on it. The size of the poisonous tarantula varies 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 individuals living in America. Their sizes can reach 10 centimeters, and the paw span - 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 a scalp. It performs a protective function. If the predator touches this cover, then it begins to itch.
An equally interesting feature of these spiders is their silk thread, which they protect their territory with. The tarantula is able to pick up the smallest vibration when approaching enemies or a potential victim. When a spider feels threatened, it hides. If the tarantula senses the victim, then he will hide in an ambush and will wait until she approaches the required distance.
Life expectancy of males is always less than females. This is due to the fact that females after mating eat partners. In this case, the offspring gets a better chance of survival, as the female is full. According to scientists, the survival rate of these creatures is very low. Many die from predators in the first year of their lives.
Regardless of whether the tarantula is poisonous or not, it is often a favorite pet in many countries 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 meadows. Today, tarantulas are common across all continents of the planet. The exception is Antarctica.
Tarantula Lifestyle
These spiders mainly live in burrows. They can be seen almost everywhere, but more 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 homes during the day. When winter comes, spiders seal the entrance to the hole. This is carried out using plants and cobwebs. In the hole, the tarantula spends all winter, and with the onset of spring comes out.
Breeding
The mating period of tarantulas falls in the summer. At this moment, the males are sent in search of a partner. It is noteworthy that searches do not always succeed. Often, the female eats the male when he appears in her field of vision.
During the meeting, males vibrate with the abdomen and fangs. By this they show their intentions. If the female is not opposed to 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 this, the fertilized female goes into hibernation, which occurs in a sealed hole.
She goes outside only in the spring. At the same time, eggs form in her abdomen. She lays 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 the 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 kids get out.
It is noteworthy that the cubs do not leave the mother immediately. They are located on her back and are there until they can not eat on their own. After that, the female goes around her territory and scatters her babies through it.
Tarantula Life Span
The number of years this spider can live depends on its variety and territory. For example, the species Aphonopelma, which lives on the American continent, is able to live up to 30 years. This is the highest possible figure for tarantulas. The remaining species live from 5 to 10 years.
Nutrition
The tarantula is a formidable predator for all insects and animals that are 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 there. The process of eating these spiders is unusual. The tarantula has absolutely no teeth, so it punctures a hole in its victim with the help of fangs, and then injects a special substance there. It dissolves all the internal organs of the victim, and the tarantula calmly sucks out the contents.
Toxin hazard
The toxicity of tarantulas has long been known. But her degree was clearly exaggerated. Scientists believe that many cases of severe poisoning, among which death was noted, did not come from the bites of a tarantula, but a black widow. A tarantula, as a rule, is a mortal danger only for small animals. For an ordinary person, his bite is approximately equivalent to a bee sting: a slight swelling, numbness, less often a fever, but no more are possible.
A few interesting facts about tarantulas
Having a rather creepy appearance, these creatures have a very peaceful disposition. At the same time, the whole fear of people before spiders is formed by numerous horror films in which tarantulas can often be observed.
The largest spider of this species, ever recorded in nature, had the size of an average dining plate.
The name "tarantula" these invertebrates received in honor of the city of Tarento, which is located in Italy. In this city, this species of spiders was discovered for the first time in huge quantities.