Where are tarantulas found? What does a tarantula spider look like - who is it? is it poisonous or not

There is an interesting etymological story to which the tarantula spider owes its name. All sources give an example from the Italian Renaissance.

In those days, in the city of Tarento they were very afraid of one of our spider species; it was believed that its tarantula bite was almost fatal. To alleviate the fate of those bitten, it was prescribed to move a lot and randomly, supposedly in this case the poison would be neutralized. Subsequently, these chaotic movements began to be performed to music, and thus one of the most popular dances was born - the tarantella, and the spider itself was called the tarantula.

Whether this is true or not, it is not possible to check now, but the spider turned out to be not so deadly - it does no more harm than from a bee or a hornet, although in the photo the tarantula spider looks scary.

Biological certificate

Now let's move on to the description of the tarantula, the characteristics of its behavior, nutrition and reproduction, let's give it brief description as a representative of the animal world.

Scientific classification and lifestyle

The genus of tarantulas belongs to. They live mainly in burrows, in which they spend all daylight hours, and at night they go out hunting. These arthropods also weave a web, but they use it not as a trapping net, but as a decoration for the walls in their underground apartments and for arranging an oviposition cocoon.

By the way! The depth of a tarantula's burrow can reach 60 centimeters, and some species are even capable of going a meter deep before the onset of cold weather!

Tarantulas are often confused with, which is greatly facilitated by the fact that in some languages the word “tarantula” is used to refer specifically to representatives of this family, and even if we ignore the differences in size, these arthropods are similar to each other.

Remember! Tarantula is from the wolf spider family, tarantulas are from the tarantula family!

The main difference between the two families is the structure and functioning of the chylicerae. In wolves they move towards each other, in tarantulas they move in parallel.

Description

What does a tarantula look like? These are quite large spiders, reaching a leg span of 30 centimeters. Males are always slightly smaller than females. The bodies of spiders are covered with hairs of gray, brown or brown depending on the type.

The largest sizes are tarantulas representing South America; their European relatives rarely exceed a body length of five centimeters.

An interesting question is about the organs of vision of representatives of this family. Curious lovers of the animal world are often interested in how many eyes a tarantula has. We answer - he has eight of them, which allows you to view the entire panorama around both horizontally and vertically.

Nutrition

It is also important to know what tarantulas eat. This is especially true for those lovers of arthropods who are going to breed them in their own apartment. And what, as the character in “The Twelve Chairs” said: “Who cares for a mare!”

So, the night hunter feeds on everything that is shorter. It could be an insect, an arachnid of another species, or even small mammals and birds. Digestion in tarantulas, like many other spiders, is external. First, the predator introduces poison and digestive juices into the body of the victim, which decompose the tissues of the victim, and only then absorbs the digested substrate.

Spreading

The question of where tarantulas are found is the most popular among arachnophobes, people who are afraid of spiders. In this regard, residents of central Russia and regions with similar or more severe climatic conditions can be calm. Here the tarantula can only be found in various zoos and apartments of enthusiasts and Spider-Man fans.

But in the south of our country, our neighboring states, the south of Europe, the African, Asian and American continents, tarantulas are found in large numbers.

Reference! Currently, scientists have identified more than 200 species of tarantula spider.

Reproduction

Tarantula spiders reproduce like representatives of other spider families, but they still have their own characteristics. First of all, this is the famous mating dance, by which the spider recognizes the male of its own species. In general, the mating process can be divided into the following stages:

At the end of summer, the male decides that it is time to extend his tarantula lineage and goes in search of a female.
Having found the intended bride, he begins to perform a ritual dance.
She, in turn, takes a closer look at the gentleman, and if she decides that he is the man of her dreams and belongs to the same species, she begins to respond to him, copying the dance steps.
After such identification, the mating itself occurs, after which the groom hurries to quickly retreat before the missus decides to eat him. It must be said that in this respect, male tarantulas are more agile than representatives of the male population of other spiders.

In the female’s body, warmed by the warmth of the sun, eggs begin to form, up to 700 eggs depending on the species. At the end of this process, the female weaves a cocoon from the web directly on her stomach, where she places the formed eggs.

So she carries her offspring on herself until the young begin to hatch. Sensing this moment, the young mother gnaws through the cocoon and releases her children into the wild.

However, the babies do not leave their mother, but move onto her back, where she carries them until they learn to feed themselves.

Bites

Here we will reveal the secret of whether the tarantula is dangerous for humans. There is no doubt that a spider bites painfully; in any case, those who were bitten noted that it was similar to being stung by a bee.

One of effective ways What to do if you are bitten by a tarantula is to use the antidote contained directly in the spider’s body. It is enough to crush the animal and lubricate the bite site with juices, then the pain will decrease and the wound will heal faster.

To the question of whether the tarantula is poisonous or not, we will also answer in the affirmative, otherwise how would it kill its victims. However, its venom is not dangerous for humans unless there is an individual intolerance or allergy to bites.

Types of spiders

As we mentioned above, there are over two hundred species of tarantulas; even a simple listing of their Latin names will take up quite a lot of space, so in our review only those that are most popular among lovers of these animals will be mentioned.

South Russian

It is also called mizgir, as the name suggests, it is found in the south of our country. Depending on external conditions The coloration of this individual of this species varies from gray to brown. Females reach three centimeters in size, males are a centimeter to one and a half smaller.

With climate warming, the habitat of southern Russian tarantulas is gradually expanding; soon we will meet them in middle lane, then the prefix “south” can be discarded.

Apulian

The Apulian tarantula, also called the real one, is twice as large as the domestic species. Females of the Puglian reach a size of seven centimeters.

This type of spider is widespread throughout the Mediterranean countries, both in southern Europe and northern Africa. The burrows of this spider are located in rocky shores and rocky beaches.

Brazilian

The Brazilian tarantula has a beautiful coloration. It is small, three centimeters long, its body is colored in various shades of brown, and there is an elongated light stripe on the head and back.

Distribution area of the handsome man - countries South America: Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina.

Spanish

The Spanish tarantula was previously considered one of the subspecies of the Apulian spider, which shares the same habitat with it. More recently, the Spanish spider began to be considered an independent species, this happened only in 2013.

Polyastomy

This species is adjacent to Brazilian spider, but different from the last one gray hairs covering the body, but in size it is similar to its neighbor and has a three-centimeter body, excluding the length of the legs.

Leocarti

This tarantula is from the Australian continent. a small gray-brown spider, the body length of the female is only 1.2 centimeters, and the males are nine millimeters long.

Black-bellied

This species of tarantula lives on the islands Pacific Ocean, in Japan and Taiwan. The brown body of females barely reaches two centimeters in length, the male is half a centimeter shorter. The spider's abdomen is black, which determined its name, and there are two dark stripes on the back.

At the end of our story about unusual spiders We invite you to watch a fascinating video about a tarantula spider hunting a mouse.

Tarantula is a genus of araneomorphic spiders belonging to the wolf spider family. They live mainly in arid areas such as steppes and deserts. During the day they hide in holes, and at night they go out hunting. Spiders scour the ground in search of insects. Tarantulas, unlike many other species, do not weave webs, but use the web only to strengthen their homes.

There are more than two hundred species of tarantulas in the world, inhabiting temperate and tropical climate. Some of them live in Russia.

Etymology of the name

This name comes from one of the varieties of spiders that live near the city of Taranto. According to local residents of the fifteenth century, spiders were the cause of the disease, called "Tarantism". According to legend, the bite of this spider infected an unusual disease that led to inevitable death, and the only possible way to heal there was a special, very energetic dance - the tarantella (known to this day). It was common to think that dance should draw all the strength out of the “patient” along with the disease.

Description of appearance

Tarantulas have a double, shaggy body and two pairs of four paws. It consists of two parts - the cephalothorax and abdomen. The spider has eight eyes on its head, which allow it to look around 360 degrees. Almost all subspecies are black or brown in color (there are bright exceptions).

American tarantulas are much larger than other species, they can reach ten centimeters, with a paw span of up to thirty centimeters. Tarantulas, which lived much shorter in Europe, rarely reach five centimeters. Males are smaller than females.

Many confuse the species of tarantulas with others large spiders , for example, tarantulas (most people consider them to be tarantulas). This opinion is fundamentally incorrect, since the tarantula belongs to mygalomorphic spiders. Over time, the error became entrenched in society and culture.

The appearance of these beauties can be appreciated in the photo.

Lifestyle

The spider spends most of its time in, on our own dug, hole. Tarantula burrows can reach 25 centimeters deep. Inside each burrow, a wall of leaves and cobwebs is cultivated. To protect itself from rain or before the onset of winter, the spider goes even deeper and closes its “hut” with web and earth.

The tarantula is a predator, and therefore is often in search of prey. Spiders hunt mainly at night, sometimes during the day, waiting for prey near their home. Almost all careless insects fall under the insidious mites of tarantulas, among them: caterpillars, mole crickets, crickets, beetles and others.

Tarantulas prefer to be located as close to “home” as possible; they painstakingly protect their territory, protecting yourself from strangers. In cases where the spider needs to move away from the hole, it ties itself to it with a web to make it easier to find its way home. The only option to force the creature to leave its home territory is mating season, at this moment the spiders forget about everything and lose their heads. As a result, they are able to go a long way in search of a suitable female.

Reproduction

If the male managed to find worthy candidate, he decides to hit on her. After a short courtship, the spiders enter into a relationship. Unfortunately, this relationship is not destined to end long and happy life. At the moment of mating, the male must be as careful and tense as possible, because after this process is completed the female will try to bite her “suitor” and give them dinner. The fate of the male depends on how quickly he reacts (many manage to escape). The female, having already been fertilized, continues to live alone.

Tarantula

Eggs spider lays in her hole. At an early stage, they are stored in a cocoon, which she drags along with her throughout the entire “gestation” period. Even after birth, baby tarantulas live on their mother’s back until they become more independent (they learn to hunt and crawl).

Known species

Poisonous or not?

One of the most important questions related to tarantulas is whether they are poisonous or not, are they dangerous to humans? Despite the mass of legends, a lot of misinformed people and confusion with other species of spiders, the tarantula is believed to be dangerous. Yes, the spider is poisonous, and its poison can kill, but only animals. A tarantula cannot harm a person, and its bite will be similar to the sting of a bee or hornet. Moreover, the tarantula will not look for you and attack, despite the fact that it is a predator. You can provoke him to attack only by invading his territory or destroying his house (banal self-defense).

It is important to understand that you should not deliberately invite a spider to attack, which is unknown to you. IN certain time year, for example, in the spring, at this time the venom of spiders gains strength (it is more toxic) and some individuals with their bite can lead to unpleasant consequences. An infected person may experience nausea, dizziness, and the like (not fatal, but creepy and unpleasant).

The degree of danger varies depending on the time of year:

Spring - at this time spiders wake up and have a rather weak poison;
Summer - they are completely awake, the poison intensifies several times;
Autumn - the strength of the poison declines again due to the approaching hibernation.

Tarantula as a pet

Tarantula is a wonderful pet. The spider does not ask for a lot of food, is quite unpretentious to living conditions, is relatively safe (poisonous, but calm and flexible) and interesting. They are also very beautiful, for example, the black Brazilian version. In general, these creatures are very popular, many people buy American spiders, and some get by with South Russian ones.

Choosing a spider preference should be given to a female, since they can live much longer.

Tarantula is a generalized name for spiders that differ large sizes and covered with wool. More than 900 species belong to this family. The tarantula spider is a species of large poisonous araneomorphic insects; they belong to the large family of wolf spiders. All representatives of this family are poisonous to a greater or lesser extent. Before moving on to the description of these amazing creatures, I would like to note that the simplicity of their maintenance has led to the popularity of tarantulas as exotic pets.

Tarantula: description

The spider consists of two parts - the abdomen and the cephalothorax. There are four pairs of eyes on the head. The legs of this large insect shaggy and long. The hairs growing on them are quite sharp; upon contact with human skin, they can injure, resulting in a burning sensation and severe itching. The tarantula spider uses these hairs to protect itself from its natural enemies. The furry predator kills the victim that falls into its paws with fangs, the length of which is 1 cm.

Fluffy insects are very beautiful. The color can be brown or black, but brown-rusty individuals of this species are also found. The spider weighs about 90 g, with females noticeably larger than males.

Lifestyle

The tarantula spider lives in deep burrows, which it makes in hard soil. Such a spider's dwelling reaches up to 25 cm vertically in depth. At the entrance, the predator builds a vertical wall, using plant remains and soil as building materials. The spider lines its burrow with cobwebs. When the rainy season or molting time begins, the entrance from above is closed with threads of cobwebs and earth. With the onset of winter, the insect covers its home with dry plants mixed with cobwebs.

The tarantula hunts mainly at night, guarding prey at the entrance to the hole. During the day, he sits out in his lair and waits for a random victim there. Based on this, it can be understood that a person can suffer and receive a tarantula bite only in those cases when he himself invades his territory and destroys the home of a predatory insect.

Tarantulas do not go far from their home; if they have to move away a little, they always go, tied to the hole with their web. This is how spiders find their way home. True, there are exceptions during the mating season. At this time, the males, forgetting about caution and rules, go in search of the female, following along the way for a long time.

Reproduction

When, after a long search, the male tarantula finally finds a female, he begins to court her. The “lady” reciprocates, but you need to behave extremely carefully with her. After the flirting ritual, the spiders mate; it is at this moment, after the end of the mating act, that the female can bite her unlucky “gentleman,” who will instantly turn from a groom into dinner. Therefore, males must have quick reactions and quick reverse movements in order to escape in time. This is what it is - a spider wedding!

The spider lays her eggs in her hole, where she wraps them in a web, resulting in a cocoon. The expectant mother carries it with her everywhere until the little tarantulas appear. But even after birth, the spiders ride on their mother’s back for some time. Only after growing up and learning to crawl and live independently, children leave their parents’ home and begin to create their own home and independent life.

Why is a tarantula dangerous?

As mentioned earlier, the bite of a tarantula, no matter what species it belongs to, is still poisonous. How dangerous a tarantula is depends on the age of the predator, race, gender, season and some other factors.

Let's consider the toxicity of these insects, based on the time of year:

April- just waking up after winter, tarantulas are very inert, their poison is not too toxic.
May- in the middle of this month there comes a period when females lay eggs. Spiders become very active, and the toxicity of the poison increases by 2 times.
June- at the beginning of the month, mating and migration occur; the venom of predators at this time is 3 times more toxic.
August- spiders, especially young females, have less toxic venom.
September- before wintering, the toxicity of the venom of hairy insects is reduced by 2 times.

Why is the tarantula spider dangerous for living beings? This creature is not in vain considered a predator; its bite has a neurogenic effect on nervous system. The venom of this spider can lead to neuromuscular disorders, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. So you need to be extremely careful with this cute and fluffy creature of nature.

Black tarantula as a pet

When talking about representatives of the wolf spider family, it is impossible not to mention such a beauty as the black Brazilian tarantula. This beautiful insect considered the most best view spiders for home keeping.

It, of course, also belongs to predators, but at the same time it has a calm and obedient character. Those who are already closely acquainted with the black shaggy fluffy can confidently recommend it as the most obedient spider. Live it out amazing creature in the right conditions can be up to 20 years. So for a long time the beautiful pet will be next to its owner.

Tarantula is a general name for spiders that are large in size and covered with hair. More than 900 species belong to this family. The tarantula spider is a species of large poisonous araneomorphic insects; they belong to the large family of wolf spiders. All representatives of this family are poisonous to a greater or lesser extent. Before moving on to the description of these amazing creatures, I would like to note that the simplicity of their maintenance has led to the popularity of tarantulas as exotic pets.

Tarantula: description

The spider consists of two parts - the abdomen and the cephalothorax. There are four pairs of eyes on the head. The legs of this large insect are shaggy and long. The hairs growing on them are quite sharp; upon contact with human skin, they can injure, resulting in a burning sensation and severe itching. The tarantula spider uses these hairs to protect itself from its natural enemies. The furry predator kills the victim that falls into its paws with fangs, the length of which is 1 cm.

Lifestyle

Reproduction

Why is a tarantula dangerous?

Let's consider the toxicity of these insects, based on the time of year:

April- just waking up after winter, tarantulas are very inert, their poison is not too toxic.
May- in the middle of this month there comes a period when females lay eggs. Spiders become very active, and the toxicity of the poison increases by 2 times.
June- at the beginning of the month, mating and migration occur; the venom of predators at this time is 3 times more toxic.
August- spiders, especially young females, have less toxic venom.
September- before wintering, the toxicity of the venom of hairy insects is reduced by 2 times.

Why is the tarantula spider dangerous for living beings? It is not for nothing that this creature is considered a predator; its bite has a neurogenic effect on the nervous system. The venom of this spider can lead to neuromuscular disorders, disorders of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. So you need to be extremely careful with this cute and fluffy creature of nature.

Black tarantula as a pet

When talking about representatives of the wolf spider family, it is impossible not to mention such a beauty as the black Brazilian tarantula. This beautiful insect is considered the best type of spider to keep at home.

It, of course, also belongs to predators, but at the same time it has a calm and obedient character. Those who are already closely acquainted with the black shaggy fluffy can confidently recommend it as the most obedient spider. This amazing creature can live up to 20 years in proper conditions. So for a long time the beautiful pet will be next to its owner.

There are a huge number of spiders in the world, for which only a few people have “warm feelings”. The tarantula spider is considered one of the most terrible. Fear is caused not only by the large size of the body, but also by the terrible consequences of its bite.

Tarantula spider - description

The name of these arthropods comes from Italy. In ancient times, a huge number of these spiders lived on its territory, and as a result, many were bitten by them. Largest quantity The victims were in the city of Taranto, which is why they were named tarantula spiders. They stand out among others due to their large size and the fact that they are found in many arid regions of the planet.

Those people who are interested in arachnology are interested in how long tarantula spiders live. According to experts, the period is directly related to their type. On average, the number of years ranges from 5-10, but there are also real centenarians who can live up to 30 years. Moreover, females live much longer than males, who often die immediately after mating.

What does a tarantula spider look like?

This genus is one of the most widespread representatives of the order of arthropods. It includes large number species, but they all have certain similarities. By way of life, they are all loners. Males quarrel with each other all the time, and they only meet with representatives of the opposite sex during the breeding season. Big spider The tarantula has the following characteristics:

the body is covered with the finest hairs;
there are eight eyes on the cephalothorax;
body size ranges from 2.5 to 10 cm;
paw span can reach 30 cm;
maximum weight 90 g;
number of legs – 8;
there are claws at the ends of the paws;
forepaws - chelicerae have poisonous ducts;
different colors: brown, gray, black and light.

Where does the tarantula spider live?

This type of arthropod is natural environment lives in steppe, forest-steppe, desert and semi-desert zones Europe, America, Africa and Asia. In addition, representatives can be found in Austria, Italy, Egypt, China, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Brazil and even in our country. As is known, the black tarantula spider and its other varieties lead night look life. During the day they hide in small holes, and at the beginning of darkness they go out to hunt.

Is the tarantula spider poisonous or not?

Arthropods do not attack humans on their own. The attack of tarantula spiders is a forced defense when approaching close to a burrow or accidental contact. Many who are little familiar with this representative of the fauna are interested in poisonous spider Tarantula for humans or not. As practice shows, the bite is not dangerous for a healthy adult. Exceptions include children and people suffering from allergies.

Types of Tarantula Spiders

The genus has more than 200 species. IN lately Many exotic lovers dream of owning a blue tarantula spider, which was found in the forests of Guyana several years ago. Although in fact this is a hoax, because it belongs to the genus of tarantulas, which only inexperienced arachnologists can confuse with a tarantula. Among all the types, the most famous are the following:

Tarantula spider - house maintenance

Recently, exotic animals have become very popular. These include various spiders. These arthropods are unpretentious in care and food. The tarantula spider in the house is kept in a special terrarium or even an aquarium, which has ventilation holes. In the “house” for a full life you need to create the following conditions:

Pour a substrate of a mixture of earth, sand and clay onto the bottom. Its thickness should be up to 30 cm.
There should be an automatic drinking bowl and a small pool inside.
Optimum temperature +25-27ºС.
In addition, it is important to regularly moisten the soil using a spray bottle.
One terrarium can contain one individual.

Many lovers of these “furry” babies who want to have such a pet at home are interested in how much a tarantula spider costs. On average, the price depends on the species, age, size, sex and degree of domestication. Their cost does not exceed $28. Babies aged 4 months. can be purchased for $2. The most common species in our country is the South Russian tarantula.

What do tarantula spiders eat?

In their natural environment, arthropods feed small insects and amphibians. Tarantulas eat caterpillars, mole crickets, beetles and even small frogs. It is important that the size of the prey does not exceed the hunter. On average, the absorption process takes several days, while spiders can starve for a long time; the main thing for them is to have constant access to water.

The diet of the domestic tarantula spider is no different from the natural one. If there are no insects or larvae, small pieces of fresh beef can be given. The frequency of feeding depends on age. The baby is given food three times a week, and the adult – once. It is important to remove all remaining food from the terrarium upon completion of feeding to prevent it from rotting.

Tarantula spider - interesting facts

People who admire these arthropods collect interesting information about their lives. Among the huge variety, the following interesting facts can be highlighted:

Tarantula blood is considered an excellent antidote for poison; it is used to smear the bite site.
Spider webs can only be found in homes. When the tarantula accidentally tears it during a foray, he is forced to create a new shelter.
During the mating season, males move very long distances in search of a female.
Tarantulas can regenerate lost limbs. This happens gradually after each molt.
To hold onto tree branches or other surfaces, they have small claws on their paws.
The skin on the abdomen is very delicate and can tear even when falling from a small height.