Tarantula is a large hairy tropical spider with fangs. They are native to South and Central America, in Africa and in the southern part of North America. Savanna, grasslands such as the pampas, rain forests, deserts, scrub land, mountains, and cloud forests are their natural habitats. They are generally classed among the terrestrial types.
Tarantulas may live for years, the females can live for up to 30 years or more. The oldest spider, according to Guinness World Records, lived to be 49 years old. Small tarantulas feed on insects, beetles and grasshoppers. The largest tarantula species like the Goliath Bird-eater hunts larger prey, such as, lizards, snakes, frogs, bats and small birds. All tarantulas are venomous but most of them don't harm humans.
A tarantula has four pairs of legs and two additional pairs of appendages, they have two or three retractable claws at the end of each leg. Also they have a group of hairs, surrounding the claws, which help the tarantula to grip better when climbing surfaces like glass. Though most tarantulas tend to stay on the ground, they sometimes climb trees. When they climb trees, the claws are used for gripping the surfaces. Tarantulas do not use webs to capture prey, they take the difficult path – hunting on foot. When threatened, the spider will rub the hairs with their legs and shoot them at their predator. Their worst enemy is the Spider-Wasp.
Most tarantulas are seen wandering during the summer months to find a mate.
Tarantulas can regenerate lost legs. The regenerated leg may not be quite as long as the one it lost. However, over successive molts the leg will gradually get longer until it reaches normal size again. Tarantulas will sometimes eat their detached legs as a way to recycle the protein.
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| Source : USFWS |
Tarantulas may live for years, the females can live for up to 30 years or more. The oldest spider, according to Guinness World Records, lived to be 49 years old. Small tarantulas feed on insects, beetles and grasshoppers. The largest tarantula species like the Goliath Bird-eater hunts larger prey, such as, lizards, snakes, frogs, bats and small birds. All tarantulas are venomous but most of them don't harm humans.
A tarantula has four pairs of legs and two additional pairs of appendages, they have two or three retractable claws at the end of each leg. Also they have a group of hairs, surrounding the claws, which help the tarantula to grip better when climbing surfaces like glass. Though most tarantulas tend to stay on the ground, they sometimes climb trees. When they climb trees, the claws are used for gripping the surfaces. Tarantulas do not use webs to capture prey, they take the difficult path – hunting on foot. When threatened, the spider will rub the hairs with their legs and shoot them at their predator. Their worst enemy is the Spider-Wasp.
Most tarantulas are seen wandering during the summer months to find a mate.
Scientists recently discovered that tarantulas can produce silk with their feet, in addition to using spinnerets as other spiders do.
Tarantulas can regenerate lost legs. The regenerated leg may not be quite as long as the one it lost. However, over successive molts the leg will gradually get longer until it reaches normal size again. Tarantulas will sometimes eat their detached legs as a way to recycle the protein.
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