Why are tarantulas so hairy (5 photos)

In the animal world, everything is thought out - and even the smallest detail can perform a very important function. The body and legs of tarantulas, for example, are covered with long hairs. It turns out that these hairs perform their own special functions.





Most spiders do not have long hairs like tarantulas. Then do they have so much hair? Scientists said that the hairs on the body and legs of tarantulas perform extremely important functions. First, unlike mammalian hair, which is made of keratin, tarantula hairs (or bristles) are made of chitin, a naturally occurring polysaccharide compound that is also part of the exoskeleton of spiders. Some of these hairs act as sensory organs: they help tarantulas sense smells, tastes, touches and vibrations. These "sensory" hairs are located mainly on the hind legs and mouthparts of spiders.



The most sensitive hairs of tarantulas - trichobothria - detect even the smallest changes in air movement. They are most often located on the dorsal side of the tarsi and forearms. These hairs help tarantulas navigate when catching or reacting to fleeing prey. In 1883, the German zoologist Friedrich Dahl called them “hearing hairs”: he saw that these hairs moved in time to the sounds of a violin. Chemically sensitive hairs that detect odors and tastes also play a role in reproduction and help the tarantula find a mate.

"Male tarantulas search for female burrows during the mating season. If they pass near such a burrow, their contact chemosensitive hairs are stimulated by the sex pheromone contained in the web, which allows the male to find a female. The hairs also help track prey by the scent they leave behind," Rovner said .





In addition, the hairs help cold-blooded tarantulas regulate their body temperature. Their thick hair allows them to remain active during cool nights in tropical forests and deserts. The bristles also serve as a kind of waterproof coating that repels water - this will help the spider survive, for example, in a flood. Also, their lower hairs on their legs (scopulae) are sticky. This helps them climb smooth vertical surfaces and also capture prey.



Another function of hairs is protection. Many tarantulas have up to 1 million sharp hairs on their abdomens, which they use for defense. These spiny bristles can dig into the skin, eyes and mucous membranes of predators when attacked, causing irritation. If these hairs come into contact with a person's skin, they can cause redness, burning and itching, and if they get into the eyes, even blindness.