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Texas Tarantula (Aphonopelma)
101108 pg 2
 The
photo on the right shows the anterior
carapace, the eyes, and the basal segments of the chelicerae (forward of
the eyes) of this New World tarantula. The first segments of the
pedipalps are on either side of the chelicerae; this is where the
stridulating organ would be found if this tarantula possessed them (it
does not). Old World tarantulas with stridulating organs use them to
produce a loud hissing sound to discourage predators and for other
purposes. The distal ends of the palps (not visible) are not enlarged in
the male New World tarantula as in most other spiders, as their emboli (reservoirs for sperm, used during mating)
are slender structures no larger than the palps themselves. They do
extend beyond the distal palp, as the photo on the next page shows, and
are helpful in determining the sex of a tarantula. The eyes
are small and weak, and unsuitable for acute vision, but distinguish
between light and darkness, and detect motion. To sense its environment,
discern the presence and location of other tarantulas, prey, etc.,
tarantulas use
enervated setae, or sensory hairs, distributed along their appendages;
see
Foelix (1996), ch. 4.
The setae are variously sensitive to
pheromones, touch, and other stimuli. The
basal segments of the chelicerae are seen
here as hairy, bulbous projections in front of the eyes. The tarantulas
are mygalomorphs, an infraorder with claw-like, parallel chelicerae, vs.
the more typical, opposing, scissor-like chelicerae of most spiders.
These are fitted distally with hollow fangs
used to inject venom. Foelix notes that of the 34,000 known species of
spiders (now
over 38,000, re: Ubick et al [2005]), only 20-30 pose a danger
to man. Tarantulas are not in that group, though their venom is lethal
for mice and insects.
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Jerry Cates. Questions? Corrections? Comments?
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