Can all Tarantulas leap?

Jebbles

Arachnosquire
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Nov 10, 2012
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I've heard and seen on Youtube tarantulas such as the P. Irminia and an Avi jump from a hand to the other or from the hand to a bed below. My question is, can/would all tarantulas jump? How these guys did it, is that they had the tarantula on their hand facing where they want them to go, wait until the tarantula lowered it's body, and then just gave them a little tap on the abdomen, and then they just leaped into the air. So can only Arboreal tarantulas leap? Or would a Terrestrial tarantula like the Goliath Birdeater, who has been seen killing bats, be able to leap as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRPCAHG2VY
 
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Curious jay

Arachnodemon
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Jan 23, 2012
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Define what you mean by leap.... My young terrestrials will 'hop' from elevated surfaces to lower surfaces but not in the same manner an arboreal would 'jump'.

Maybe someone with more experience would be able to give a clearer answer.
 

grayzone

Arachnoking
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While leaping is USUALLY a trait only seen in arboreals, I believe all ts are capable of doing so.
Ive seen B. albo leap and also a beautiful unidentified OW fossorial sp. i owned. Bastard ran up out of its burrow, leaped off the top, ran across the table and leaped onto a bench, then dropped to the ground. Never seen it since.

Oh yeah, my first t (giant male L. parahybana) once leaped/pounced off the side of its 10gal to tackle a group of crickets.
 

spiderengineer

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Apr 22, 2012
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I've heard and seen on Youtube tarantulas such as the P. Irminia and an Avi jump from a hand to the other or from the hand to a bed below. My question is, can/would all tarantulas jump? How these guys did it, is that they had the tarantula on their hand facing where they want them to go, wait until the tarantula lowered it's body, and then just gave them a little tap on the abdomen, and then they just leaped into the air. So can only Arboreal tarantulas leap? Or would a Terrestrial tarantula like the Goliath Birdeater, who has been seen killing bats, be able to leap as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRPCAHG2VY

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/sho...ancerides-sling-hunting-like-a-jumping-spider
 

brezo

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Yeah i think he also disassembled the stove or the fridge im not sure anymore :)
 

Storm76

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They can, if they want to, but it's mainly the arboreals that do so. Living in the trees they have to be agile like that in case they need to "bail out" of a dangerous situation for example.

Here's an awesome vid of an Acanthoscurria geniculata leaping at the roach offered as soon as she senses it...:
[YOUTUBE]HXbjAwnsvVs[/YOUTUBE]
 

jakykong

Arachnobaron
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Sep 19, 2011
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^^ That is definitely an awesome video.... wow. That A. genic might just win the Tarantula pole-vault award.
 

Bugmom

Arachnolord
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May 28, 2012
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My geniculata has jumped/leaped/whatever you want to call it (that was my first close call with her, as it was my hand and not the cricket she was after... and I tell ya, a 6.5" angry spider landing on your hand does not make for clean underwear). But she's also psycho and has also ran up the feeding tongs and then jumped off when she changed her mind, just about 1/2" before she reached my hand, so there's that. Never underestimate an angry spider. Especially a genic lol.

But yes. They'll jump/leap. My LP sling did it when I unpacked her. Was on the rim of the vial and jumped down onto the floor.

Blame Tapatalk + "smart" phone for the typos kthnx
 

McGuiverstein

Arachnobaron
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That genic video is crazy! I've seen terrestrials jump at food, but not like that X). Crazy to see a big bulky spider get that much height.
 

Ultum4Spiderz

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I've heard and seen on Youtube tarantulas such as the P. Irminia and an Avi jump from a hand to the other or from the hand to a bed below. My question is, can/would all tarantulas jump? How these guys did it, is that they had the tarantula on their hand facing where they want them to go, wait until the tarantula lowered it's body, and then just gave them a little tap on the abdomen, and then they just leaped into the air. So can only Arboreal tarantulas leap? Or would a Terrestrial tarantula like the Goliath Birdeater, who has been seen killing bats, be able to leap as well?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyRPCAHG2VY
ALl Tarantulas can Jump short distance, but I've Only seen Aboreals Leap
Only Arboreal Can actually Leap with high skill level and almost always survive falls...!!
except OBT, and a few crazy terrestrials with a light body.

Only in feeding do I see Terrestrials "JUMP" but not LEAP
 
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grayzone

Arachnoking
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i fail to see the difference between "jumping" and "leaping" ^

I mean.. jumping from one point to the next FOR ANY REASON (vantage point, tackle prey, safety from intrusion, escape) is leaping to me

True, arboreals tend to fare better leaping than a bulky bodied terrestrial, but terrestrials are still capable if need be.
Avicularia dont just "leap" for the fun of it.. they too are doing so because they NEED TO.


The op asked if all ts are capable of leaping, so yes they are (for one reason or another)
 

Ultum4Spiderz

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i fail to see the difference between "jumping" and "leaping" ^

I mean.. jumping from one point to the next FOR ANY REASON (vantage point, tackle prey, safety from intrusion, escape) is leaping to me

True, arboreals tend to fare better leaping than a bulky bodied terrestrial, but terrestrials are still capable if need be.
Avicularia dont just "leap" for the fun of it.. they too are doing so because they NEED TO.


The op asked if all ts are capable of leaping, so yes they are (for one reason or another)
yeah I guess they are the same thing,,,,...
Arboreal can LEAP farther , ill leave it at that
 

Jebbles

Arachnosquire
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Hm. This makes me worried now. Say if I were to have my T on a table, going to feed it or attempt to handle it or something, if he got really skittish and scared, would he attempt to leap off the table?
 

jakykong

Arachnobaron
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Hm. This makes me worried now. Say if I were to have my T on a table, going to feed it or attempt to handle it or something, if he got really skittish and scared, would he attempt to leap off the table?
This would be why it's best not to have a T anywhere high off the ground. ;)
 

spiderengineer

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Hm. This makes me worried now. Say if I were to have my T on a table, going to feed it or attempt to handle it or something, if he got really skittish and scared, would he attempt to leap off the table?
the most logical assumption is it would probably go under the table instead of going off, but its very possible if it was scared enough it could just jump off. that's why some people avoid holding their T's or making sure they are low to the ground that they would not be harmed
 
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