Tarantulas and Duct Tape

5.10A Compare the structures and functions of different species that help them live and survive such as hooves on prairie animals or webbed feet in aquatic animals.

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

If you had an encounter, or meeting, with a tarantula, what would you do?

One patient went to see a doctor. What do you think the doctor did?

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

The doctor pulled out some rolls of duct tape from one of his cabinets.

Why would a doctor bring out duct tape when a patient has encountered a tarantula?

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

Tarantulas are the biggest spiders in the world. There are more than 850 different species, or kinds, of tarantulas. They are found on every continent except Antarctica.

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

The largest kind of tarantula is a species in South America. It is called the goliath bird-eater. This spider is about 9 cm (3.5 inches) long and can measure up to 28 cm (11 inches) across, including their legs.

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

Goliath bird-eaters take young birds from their nests. They also eat frogs and bats. They eat beetles, mice, rats, and lizards, too.

Tarantulas and Duct TapeTo get control over a victim, a tarantula pounces on it. Then it spears it with two fangs. Venom, a type of poison, is injected into the victim through the fangs. The venom kills or paralyzes the victim.

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

Usually, a tarantula’s venom is not strong enough to subdue a person. The person may have a painful reaction, but does not die. When the doctor put duct tape on the patient who encountered the tarantula, the doctor first checked for a double puncture wound. Puncture wounds are small holes made by a sharp point, such as a fang.

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

It was only when the doctor did not see a double puncture wound and knew the patient had not been bitten that he applied the duct tape.

Tarantulas and Duct TapeWhen a tarantula feels threatened, it can rub its back pair of legs against its abdomen (stomach). This causes thousands of tiny hairs to fly into the air. The hairs are barbed—sharp pointed. The hairs can stick to a person’s skin and cause a painful rash, or even blindness if they land near eyes!

Tarantulas and Duct Tape

When the doctor applied duct tape to his patient, the doctor was removing barbed hairs. The tiny hairs stuck to the sticky tape!

Tarantulas

• Tarantulas are carnivores that eat insects, birds, lizards, and small mammals.

• Tarantulas have different adaptations that help them live and survive in their environments:

poisonous venom to kill or paralyze their victims. fangs which inject their victims with venom. thousands of tiny, barbed hairs that can cause a

painful rash or blindness.