DIDYA
Did you know….
TARANTULAS
My daughter claims she is afraid of spiders after living with me. Probably true. I hate spiders. It is a visceral response. I can logically argue that I have been bitten by far more mosquitos than spiders and often with the same physiological response. I think it goes back to survival of the species – me.
Tarantulas range in size from 1 inch up to 12 inches (I get the creeps just writing that). They are usually hairy. They can all spin silk but do not use it to spin a web like Charlotte. They often burrow in the ground. All are venomous. But, there is not one recorded fatality in humans.
Now, my favorite part. You know how in the movies the tarantula creeps across the bed towards the unsuspecting person under the covers? He awakes, terrified . . . flings it across the room, clobbers it with a vase, and shoots it with a gun for good measure . . . but it keeps on coming?
Got news for you. Tarantulas have very high internal pressure. They do not have capillaries like we do. Instead, blood seeps between the tissues. High internal pressure keeps their blood moving. They also do not have extensor muscles in their legs. One guy compared their leg to a garden hose – when you fill the hose with water it hardens and moves. Release the water and the hose goes limp. This is the same principal that works with a tarantula. They need high internal fluid pressure to extend their legs. Now, if they are cut, they lose some fluid, pressure falls and their legs cease to work.
The same thing happens if a tarantula gets dehydrated. And, that is why when we find a dead spider, their legs are curled in. The fluid pressure falls, the legs curl.
Years ago at the Minnesota Zoo, they were letting people hold a tarantula; I declined. They warned each person not to drop it. They said that dropping a tarantula from 3 feet on to a cement floor could cause its body to rupture.
So much for the invincible tarantula in the movies.
I still don’t like spiders, but I thought this was interesting.
I had to include one more spider we saw at our next stop. He is not a tarantula. BUT he was big. We saw many spiders, but not as many as we thought we would.
This post references back to today’s earlier post “More Iguazu Falls.” Please take the time to read that post and the previous post “Iguazu Falls is #1”. They are longer than other posts, but I really enjoyed trying to make you feel you were there with us. If nothing else, there are some great pictures.
SO . . . WHAT IS A DIDYA
From time to time, I learn something I think is fun or interesting. I am going to post these tidbits as a “DIDYA” . . . a “Did you know?” . . . hope you enjoy them.