Tarantulas are fake spiders ?

Vanessa

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In the context of evolutionary biology as a whole, "more evolved" is misleading.
Similar to saying that non-human primates are less evolved versions of humans when they aren't. Yes, all primates come from the same general group of species, but that doesn't make us all humans at different stages of the evolutionary scale. Hominids evolved in one direction, while other primate species evolved in another. Just because they haven't evolved into being a hominid by this point, doesn't mean that they have stopped evolving. They fill an evolutionary niche in their ecosystems and they have evolved within that niche to the extent that it benefits their species and allows them to survive.
 

EtienneN

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Well just talking about silk glands, but the silk glands of “true” spiders have more capabilities than a silk gland from a T does. That doesn’t make them “better”, not sure why people often conflate the idea of evolution to an arms race or something. It’s clearly not. Ts serve a great niche and play an integral role in Earth’s biosphere.
 

Patherophis

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It is interesting to break down the root words of Araneomorphae. Ara, refers to Araneae (the spiders); Neo, meaning new; morph, referring to the physical form; Ae, the Latin suffix meaning more than one. Put it all together and you get "new spider form." :)
Sorry but this etymology is off.
1. no taxon name can reffer to higher taxon, it always has to be lover one - here original word reffered is not order Araneae but genus Araneus
2. there is no "neo" root word in Araneomorphae - it is formed as: Arane(us) + omorphae
compare Mygalomorphae - Mygal(e) + omorphae; Liphistiomorphae - Liphisti(us) + omorphae
also look at family group names derived from genus Araneus:
family Arane-idae; superfamily Arane-oidea, again there is not true "neo" root in that word

 

Vanisher

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Yep.

Mesothelae (=Liphistiomorphae), the most archaic and fascinating of spiders, they do still have segmented opisthosoma, and spinerets in primary position in the middle of underside of opisthosoma
Yes! You are righ, forgot them. Those are the trap doors that have segmented abdomens and no venom right,?
 

AphonopelmaTX

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Sorry but this etymology is off.
1. no taxon name can reffer to higher taxon, it always has to be lover one - here original word reffered is not order Araneae but genus Araneus
2. there is no "neo" root word in Araneomorphae - it is formed as: Arane(us) + omorphae
compare Mygalomorphae - Mygal(e) + omorphae; Liphistiomorphae - Liphisti(us) + omorphae
also look at family group names derived from genus Araneus:
family Arane-idae; superfamily Arane-oidea, again there is not true "neo" root in that word
That makes more sense considering how taxonomic nomenclature works. Thanks for the correction!
 

EtienneN

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I guess since tarantulas and other mygales came first, and true spiders are quote unquote "newer", tarantulas should technically be the ones called 'true' spiders since they've changed little over the millions of years they've been around. But all in all the moniker seems to be pretty incorrect. Is it because scientists decided since Araneomorphs have specialised silk glands that can do things that tarantula silk glands can't they lumped all of these so called 'true spiders' into one category of specialised silk producers?
 

Vanessa

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Is it because scientists decided since Araneomorphs have specialised silk glands that can do things that tarantula silk glands can't they lumped all of these so called 'true spiders' into one category of specialised silk producers?
I've personally never seen a reference being made to 'true spider' in any scientific paper or journal. I believe the term originated in the hobby.
 

T Lurksalot

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Some great answers in this thread, so I just want to add that anyone interested in spider systematics can find a ton of info in Biology of Spiders by Rainer Foelix.
 

Paul1126

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I've personally never seen a reference being made to 'true spider' in any scientific paper or journal. I believe the term originated in the hobby.
Too be fair it is a good way to separate the two in the hobby.
I think you're all looking far too deep into this.
 
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