Bilateral gynandromorphism in tarantulas

[AngryMothNoises]

Bilateral gynandromorphism is a rare genetic disorder occurring in insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and birds, where a strange combination of genetic material splits a creature perfectly in half, with one side male and one side female.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/-CvWCVJnYuKI/U...ph%2520spider_thumb%255B7%255D.jpg?imgmax=800
http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg85/tarantulacanada/IMG_4593.jpg

As far as spiders go I have only seen pictures of Pokies

This makes me question how it would effect the life of the tarantula.
Females live longer then males. Some mature at different rates then others.
Whats the life span of spiders that have this?

With this mutation, could the spider still breed? Does it breed with a male or female counterpart? (lets say if it lives in the wild, or if some breeder wanted to breed it to get more Ts with this condition.)

Has any one had a T with this mutation?

I would love to have a spider with this, but the chances of my self getting one are very slim.

Thank you!
~Rozen

 

[Beary Strange]

That is nuts...and gorgeous. Is that your specimen or if not, whose is it? o.o

 

[viper69]

This looks odd must research this

 

[AngryMothNoises]

That is nuts...and gorgeous. Is that your specimen or if not, whose is it? o.o

Oh no its not, let me get the source.
It was pulled from here
http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2012/09/11/half-nots-8-amazing-gynandromorph-animals/

And they got their photo from here who says its from a breeder
http://spidersilkstockings.blogspot.ca/2011/12/science-saturday-gynandromorphs.html

---------- Post added 01-26-2014 at 04:37 AM ----------

sorry for double post
I found this on here
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?60259-Poecilotheria-ornata-(gynandromoph)

 

[Beary Strange]

Oh no its not, let me get the source.
It was pulled from here
http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2012/09/11/half-nots-8-amazing-gynandromorph-animals/

And they got their photo from here who says its from a breeder
http://spidersilkstockings.blogspot.ca/2011/12/science-saturday-gynandromorphs.html

Oh I see. Thinking about it, I initially thought it probably couldn't produce offspring, but now I'm not so sure. I doubt it could even handle egg production, but sperm production and introduction could be possible perhaps? I'm also going to go out on a limb and guess it would probably have the same lifespan as it's male half. What makes a male live a shorter life would still be present and well, it can hardly live without half it's body.

 

[viper69]

Oh I see. Thinking about it, I initially thought it probably couldn't produce offspring, but now I'm not so sure. I doubt it could even handle egg production, but sperm production and introduction could be possible perhaps? I'm also going to go out on a limb and guess it would probably have the same lifespan as it's male half. What makes a male live a shorter life would still be present and well, it can hardly live without half it's body.

With insects they are sterile, very interesting.

 

[Hydrazine]

As far as spiders go I have only seen pictures of Pokies

Could that be due to inevitable inbreeding as a result of small gene pool in captivity, due to the status of the Poecilotheria genus as endangered and resulting export restrictions?

 

[viper69]

No it happens naturally - if you google it and search images you'll see examples of it in many different WC species

 

[prairiepanda]

I'm pretty sure this can potentially happen with any animal, but it's far more likely with egg-laying animals. I've seen quite a few amphibians and reptiles displaying this trait as well. Definitely seems to be most prevalent in inverts, though.