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Adhesive Features of the Theraphosid Tarantulas

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New World Tarantulas

Part of the book series: Zoological Monographs ((ZM,volume 6))

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Abstract

Tarantulas are large spiders with adhesive setae on their legs, which enable them to climb on smooth vertical surfaces. The mechanism proposed to explain adhesion in tarantulas is anisotropic friction, where friction is higher when the leg pushes compared to when it pulls. The static friction of live theraphosid spiders on different surfaces and at different inclines was measured and compared between burrowing and arboreal species to test the hypothesis of higher friction in arboreal tarantulas. We analyzed the complementary participation of claw tufts and scopulae of anterior and posterior legs when the tarantula climbs. We also considered the morphology of scopulae and claw tufts setae and compared with similar structures in other families. Adhesive setae, as well as some other setae types found on ventral tarsi are described and characterized. The adhesive face of setae varied in the orientation in different parts of the tarsi, and this variation is more conspicuous in the spiders that have only claw tufts or scopulae. The mechanics of climbing in association with the biological characteristics of the species are analyzed. We discuss the association of adhesive scopulae and claw tufts with burrowing/cursorial mygalomorphs as within Theraphosidae, as was suggested for free-hunter spiders. The morphology, functions, and evolution of scopula and claw tufts are discussed in this chapter.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Entomología, Facultad de Ciencias, UDELAR, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Fernando Pérez-Miles, Carlos Perafán & David Ortiz-Villatoro

  2. Departamento de Ecología y Biología Evolutiva, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Carlos Perafán

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  1. Fernando Pérez-Miles
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Correspondence to Fernando Pérez-Miles .

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  1. Facultad de Ciencias, Sección Entomología, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay

    Fernando Pérez-Miles

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Pérez-Miles, F., Perafán, C., Ortiz-Villatoro, D. (2020). Adhesive Features of the Theraphosid Tarantulas. In: Pérez-Miles, F. (eds) New World Tarantulas. Zoological Monographs, vol 6. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-48644-0_12

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