22 interesting facts about tarantulas

Surviving in the desert regions of our planet is not easy, and such ruthless predators are perhaps the best at this task like tarantulas. Outwardly similar to spiders, they have completely different habits, and they are perfectly adapted to existence in the harshest conditions.

Interesting facts about tarantulas

1. Tarantulas are large and poisonous spiders , which are part of the wolf spider family.
2. During the day, tarantulas hide in vertical burrows that go underground to a depth of 60 cm.
3. Tarantulas do not use webs for hunting and use their nets only to equip dwellings or protect offspring.
4. Tarantulas can fatally poison some animals, but their poison is harmless to humans.
5. A substance that can neutralize the effect of tarantula venom is contained in the hemolymph of the spider itself.
6. Tarantulas owe their name to the Italian city of Taranta, in the vicinity of which one of the species of these spiders lives. According to legend, in the 15th century, the bite of this spider was considered by the townspeople to be the cause of the disease called Tarantism. It was believed that a bitten person would certainly die if he did not dance until he was completely exhausted – this is how a dance called tarantella appeared. Modern researchers believe that the tarantella was just a pretext for feasts and parties that would not have approved of the authorities without such a good reason.
7. Tarantula spiders, which are often confused with tarantulas, do not actually belong to this genus spiders.
8. The most famous species of tarantulas in the world is Apulian. These spiders live in Italian territory and have a body length of about 60 mm.
9. In the Middle Ages, people believed that the bite of a tarantula leads to insanity (interesting facts about the Middle Ages).
10. The genus of tarantulas consists of 221 species of spiders.
11. The bodies of tarantulas are covered with a very fragile shell of chitin, so any fall can be fatal for them.
12. Tarantulas can climb vertical surfaces thanks to claws with which their legs are equipped.
13. The span of the legs of tarantulas can reach three tens of centimeters, while the maximum length of the body of these spiders does not exceed 10 cm.
14. During molting, tarantulas are able to restore the legs that they lost earlier.
15. The tarantulas can attack the enemy with burning hairs covering their abdomen – the spider pulls them out with their legs and throws them into the source of the threat.
16. Tarantulas have 8 eyes, and 4 of them are located in a straight line, and the remaining 4 form a trapezoid. Thanks to this, spiders get a 360-degree view.
17. The four pairs of long and hairy legs of tarantulas allow them to easily move through sand and even water.
18. All male tarantulas, without exception, are in a continuous state enmity between themselves.
19. Tarantulas are heat-loving spiders and are not found in regions with a harsh climate (interesting facts about spiders).
20. Insects are the basis of the diet of tarantulas, from caterpillars to cockroaches, but sometimes Small frogs also become their prey.
21. The tarantula can absorb its prey for several days.
22. On average, tarantulas live 5-10 years, but there are also several long-lived species that can live up to three decades.