Tarantula hydrolics?

[FOX]

I recently bought a dvd off the internet titled 'tarantulas-worlds dangerous animals'. It was an 'Animal Planet' production & might I say, very good watching. One part of the dvd mentioned the Tarantulas body fucntions & goes on to say that the tarantulas legs sort of work the same way as hydrolics, so they need to absorb water into them to make them function correctly.
Has anyone else heard of this or am i just slow picking it up?
The other perculier thing what it mentions is that the tarantula absorbs water direct thru its FEET.

Has any of you ever seen this dvd/program, whats your opinions because if it is true it answers why i was worrying over my avic for the past few weeks, also a few others on here who have had the same problem.

 

[Starving1artist]

I`ve watched some really good shows on the Animal Planet channel here in Toronto.( My friends dog has the TV left on while she`s at work and the dog does watch and interacts with the show. Scratching at the TV mostly). I`d believe what they say. I find that the Biologists, herpatologists take their work seriously on this channel and it`s great to learn new things about are "T`s".

Why the title Tarantulas- worlds dangerous animals? Is it becuase they have a high successful killing prey ratio? Wouldn`t be human/spider interaction.

Hmmm...absorbing water through their feet. For me I`d still use a water dish for drinking for my B.Smithi. Water going from mouth to stomach is a traditional way to quench thirst. Everything does it this way and it hasn`t changed in evolution for years. The feet "thing" could be used in times of drought when there`s no significant water around for drinking and an early morning dew is the only water source when living in the wild.

You`ve definetly sparked my interest with the DVD.

I`ve contacted the Toronto Zoo with issues on my Oscars and Snapping Turtle hatchling. I think I`ll send this "feet" question there way. They`ve helped me out many a time and have the patience of "saints" with me and my questions.....Starving

 

[FOX]

I have lots of copys of this dvd, so if anyone is interested then pm me for postage & disc cost & i'll send a copy on.

 

[Nerri1029]

T's DO NOT absorb water through their feet/legs..

However..

There are two major joints in the T's legs that DO NOT have an apposing muscle to extend them. That is they ONLY have one muscle set to curl the legs at these joints.

The T's blood pressure ( Hemolymph pressure inside the T's body ) is what extends the legs at these joints..

THIS is what gives spiders that unique "walk" nothing else moves like a spider..

SO the TV Show was right..
maybe explained it a bit difficult to understand

I've been looking for that DVD too.
Best
Nerri

 

[Starving1artist]

Nerri,

Starving here. Sounds like you really know about Tarantula anatomy!.....How long have you been into "T`s"?....

 

[Nerri1029]

Nerri,

Starving here. Sounds like you really know about Tarantula anatomy!.....How long have you been into "T`s"?....

I'm still learning.. ( still very much the padowan )

I'm reading "The Biology of Spiders" by Rainer Foelix

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=17196

I've owned T's for overr 15 years
but didn't start to really learn about them until about 1.5 years ago.

 

[dr_hemlock2]

I would be interestred in the cd/dvd how much for the shipping and stuff i aqcuire anything dealing with t's have one or t shows taped on the vhs media but do not remember the names let me know.
james

 

[Jmadson13]

I'm still learning.. ( still very much the padowan )

I'm reading "The Biology of Spiders" by Rainer Foelix

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=17196

I've owned T's for overr 15 years
but didn't start to really learn about them until about 1.5 years ago.

very good book

 

[Steve Nunn]

T's DO NOT absorb water through their feet/legs..

Hi Nerri,
I beg to differ Tarantulas are known capillary drinkers, indeed it is how slings take up most of their water (other then prey items). Foelix' book is a great resource, but is getting old

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Lover of 8 legs]

Sorry for stealing this thread but this question led me to refer back to "The Biology of Spiders" and I think I have found the reason for continued leakage of hymolymph form the tibia-metatarsal joint on my G rosea. According to Foelix, extension of this joint is by a hydraulic mechanism i.e. an increase in the hemolymph pressure. My G rosea had a broken leg at the t-m joint when I got her home. The hemolymp clotted and there hasn't been much problem since. But this afternoon she climbed the back wall (carved styrofoam) and I noticed a trail of hymolymph from that leg but she was using it and so the increase of pressure was causing it to leak. Foelix also states that no increase in pressure occurs in the limb if the joint has been removed.

Here's the question: Should I let nature takes it's course or do I somehow remove it???? She usually doesn't use it; she simply carries it on her opisthosoma.

 

[fscorpion]

I also have my doubts about this water absorption trough the legs, can't say that its not true also...but if it is, than the quantity of water absorbed is very low...maybe its like the oxygen absorption trough the skin, humans can do it too, but anphibians can apsorb 20x more...

 

[Steve Nunn]

Here's the question: Should I let nature takes it's course or do I somehow remove it???? She usually doesn't use it; she simply carries it on her opisthosoma.

Hi,
Tarantula hemolymph contains no clotting agents, and if the spider cannot remove the leg, can bleed out if the injury increases. The clotting you noted can occur when another substance mixes with the exposed hemolymph, often this will be substrata, some folk use corn starch as the additive (and some crazy Europeans use ciggy ash, you know who you are ), although as you saw, it can occur without any help if you're lucky.

I would play it safe and remove the leg myself, it's done simply enough, just squeeze the femur laterally (reasonable pressure) and turn If you're unsure of it, experiment with cricket legs first, you'll see how easily they come off

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Nerri1029]

Hi Nerri,
I beg to differ Tarantulas are known capillary drinkers, indeed it is how slings take up most of their water (other then prey items). Foelix' book is a great resource, but is getting old

Cheers,
Steve

I stand corrected..

where can I find more on this...???

I'm mostly a chemist and an amatuer biologist..
I'm curious as to how capillary action can uptake water with the internal pressure so great??
the mouth has the sucking stomach...

THANKS

 

[Steve Nunn]

I stand corrected..

where can I find more on this...???

Hi Nerri,
I wish I could provide a reference for this info, I got it directly from Robert Raven at the Qld Mus. I certainly understand the interest in the mechanics, I cannot answer that with accuracy though as he didn't go into it. We were discussing the use of water dishes in enclosures, but I won't go into that here either. Anyhow we got onto the topic of spiderlings and how they ingest water, which has always had me interested.....I'd be interested in capillary action mechanics of any invertebrate for that matter Let me see what I can find for you....

Steve

 

[Ewok]

thats interesting,I did not know that tarantulas can drink with thier toes.

 

[Ewok]

I have lots of copys of this dvd, so if anyone is interested then pm me for postage & disc cost & i'll send a copy on.

Is the disk in the PAL format?