Can't get this question out of my head!

[Heartfang]

For about three days now this question has been running through my head like a madman on crank... so here it is:

What makes some T's defensive like T. blondi and others calm and docile like G. rosea?

My guess would be that there is a lack of predators for the more docile species.

Any other ideas or thoughts?

 

[Andy]

They are different species, dont think of them as similar organisms because really they aint.

 

[Snipes]

im guessing, and i do mean guessing, the docile ones dont think to bite. I like the brachypelmas throw hairs and so that is their line of defense and biting isnt really the way they defend themselves. I suppose it would be like a gardner snake, because when i catch them they spray a nasty smelling liquid over me instead of biting. They are perfectly capable of biting, but spraying that stuff is how they defend themselves. So for some docile tarantula species, fear does not trigger "bite" mechanisms. But then again the T. blondi does have u-hairs so i dunno.

 

[Heartfang]

I understand what you are saying but I wasn't trying to compare their behaviors... what I'm asking is why certain species are defensive and others docile?

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Lets see... I can only assume the following so don't hate me because it might be wrong assumptions -

I think that a blondi might look like a better snack than a rosea just because it's bigger.

A lividum or a C.c. might be hyper aggro because they live in holes. Once someting comes down there towards them they have a good chance of killing it if they emediatly get in a bite. If they wouldn't bite they might be unlucky if they havn't had time to establish an escape route.

A versicolor might be more skittish than a A. avic. because it is more brightly coloured than the A.a. thus easier to see.

I havn't really yet heard of any big T that is really docile. They all bite or love to kick hairs. A large meal is always better than a few smaller ones, unless the large ones are too big to be taken down. Most any T can easily be killed by any larger mammal I'd say, so in return the large Ts need to be a bit more aggressive in order to tip the scales.

A good old Chinese proverb: Use attack as the tactic of defense.

 

[Andy]

I understand what you are saying but I wasn't trying to compare their behaviors... what I'm asking is why certain species are defensive and others docile?

Its just like asking why humans live in houses and why monkeys live in trees

 

[Heartfang]

Its just like asking why humans live in houses and why monkeys live in trees

What? Explain please. :?

 

[Andy]

What? Explain please. :?

They are entirely different organisms, such as humans to monkeys.
They only share the same Family of organisms.

Basically they are idealised for different terrain and prey/predators.

 

[becca81]

They are different species, dont think of them as similar organisms because really they aint.

They are entirely different organisms, such as humans to monkeys.
They only share the same Family of organisms.

Not quite.

Humans and monkeys belong to a different family - all tarantualas belong to the family Theraphosidae.

With tarantulas, the species (which is identified with the genus name and species name) are the organisms that can be bred together. This does not mean that they are completely different than another species in the same family. It can be thought of as cousins, in a way. They are similar organisms, but they can not be bred together and produce fertile offspring.

I believe that evolution has much to do with the temperment of each species. As species evolved in different regions, they had to defend themselves against the predators in that particular region. If speed was needed in order to outrun predators, then the fastest tarantulas would be the ones to survive in that region.

 

[Mattyb]

Not quite.

Humans and monkeys belong to a different family - all tarantualas belong to the family Theraphosidae.

With tarantulas, the species (which is identified with the genus name and species name) are the organisms that can be bred together. This does not mean that they are completely different than another species in the same family. It can be thought of as cousins, in a way. They are similar organisms, but they can not be bred together and produce fertile offspring.

I believe that evolution has much to do with the temperment of each species. As species evolved in different regions, they had to defend themselves against the predators in that particular region. If speed was needed in order to outrun predators, then the fastest tarantulas would be the ones to survive in that region.

Evolution has much to do with temperment? Well sorry becca but i don't believe in evolution, so that shouldn't be an issue in any of the threads since it is a theory.



-Mattyb

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Evolution has much to do with temperment? Well sorry becca but i don't believe in evolution, so that shouldn't be an issue in any of the threads since it is a theory.
-Mattyb

Maybe Heartfang believes in evolution.

But what is it you believe in if not evolution, which is more substantiated than that?

 

[moricollins]

Matty, what does what YOU believe have to do with allowing someone to discuss a topic on a public thread?

Just because you don't believe in evolution does not make it a viable topic/explanation, particularly of the subject matter being discussed in this thread, it is as logical a solution to explain the differing characteristics of various species of tarantulas as any.

 

[Crotalus]

For about three days now this question has been running through my head like a madman on crank... so here it is:

What makes some T's defensive like T. blondi and others calm and docile like G. rosea?

My guess would be that there is a lack of predators for the more docile species.

Any other ideas or thoughts?

Lack of urticating hairs are one theory, but there are species with those hairs that are very aggressive such as Phormictopus. However, they dont use them much. Other theories might be the predatory pressure on them, maybe a G. rosea dont have as many predators in its habitat as a Haplopelma for example.

/Lelle

 

[Mattyb]

Matty, what does what YOU believe have to do with allowing someone to discuss a topic on a public thread?

Just because you don't believe in evolution does not make it a viable topic/explanation, particularly of the subject matter being discussed in this thread, it is as logical a solution to explain the differing characteristics of various species of tarantulas as any.

what are you ramblin on about? i don't care if she thinks its evolution, but its just a theory so why would you base a opinion about temperment on a theory? How can it be a logical solution when it is a theory??


-Mattyb

 

[Nerri1029]

Evolution has much to do with temperment? Well sorry becca but i don't believe in evolution, so that shouldn't be an issue in any of the threads since it is a theory.



-Mattyb

Show me a better more plausible explanation and I might consider it..

Otherwise..
Evolution.. survival of the fittest..

NOW .. I would have to say that some T's obviously evolved in places where NOT being aggressive aloud them to survive..

Others NEEDED to be..

 

[Mattyb]

Show me a better more plausible explanation and I might consider it..

Otherwise..
Evolution.. survival of the fittest..

NOW .. I would have to say that some T's obviously evolved in places where NOT being aggressive aloud them to survive..

Others NEEDED to be..

You believe what you want to believe, and i will believe what i want to believe. I have no further comments about this.


-Mattyb

 

[moricollins]

Matty, can you offer a FACT (as opposed to theory) that explains why tarantulas have different temperaments? If you can, i'm all ears. If not, then perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to dismiss "theories" that at least partially explain the differences in temperment.

 

[TroyMcClureOG82]

You can choose not to "believe" in evolution if you must, but I doubt you have a full understanding of what the term evolution really means. Evolution does not mean that humans evolved from monkeys. Evolution by means of natural selection just means that organisms change or "evolve" over time by means of natural selection. Natural selection requires variation. A particular variation of the same organism may be more favorable in certain environmental conditions. Natural selection has no direction. Animals may become more or less "specialized" depending on the situation. There are examples of this process all around us. To deny this is ignorance.

 

[Mattyb]

You can choose not to "believe" in evolution if you must, but I doubt you have a full understanding of what the term evolution really means. Evolution does not mean that humans evolved from monkeys. Evolution by means of natural selection just means that organisms change or "evolve" over time by means of natural selection. Natural selection requires variation. A particular variation of the same organism may be more favorable in certain environmental conditions. Natural selection has no direction. Animals may become more or less "specialized" depending on the situation. There are examples of this process all around us. To deny this is ignorance.

Yes i know what evolution is, they teach it in every school in the US. But how can u say that i can choose to believe in it or not, but if i don't than i'm ignorant? Also please share some examples, i'm curious.


-Mattyb

 

[becca81]

Pretty much what Troy said.

Matty - you can't argue with this:
Let's say that there are 5 different species of tarantula in one region. Three of these species are very docile, calm, stay mainly on the ground, etc. Two of the species are very fast, able to climb or burrow extensively, and use their bite (including venom) readily.

If the predators in that region are relatively fast, are unable to climb (or dig) much, etc., then the species that has the best chance of surviving are the two that are fast, etc. The other three species may very well become extinct. This is evolution through natural selection.

It doesn't really matter if someone agrees or disagrees with evolution. The "theory" is alive in the scientific community and provides tangible evidence. Evolution is not just something that was "thought up."