Close Up of the Face of a Aphonopelma Chalcodes or the Western Desert Tarantula, Arizona Blond Tarantula or Mexican Blond Tarantula (about 5” across)
Tarantulas are nocturnal predators that never venture far from their burrows unless it is mating season. In winter they plug their burrows with soil, rocks, and silk and survive in a relatively inactive state. During this time the animals live off stored fat reserves. Tarantulas have an interesting defensive capability in addition to venom. Some of the hairs on the top of the abdomen are specialized for defense. These urticating hairs, as they are called, are tipped with backward pointing barbs. If a tarantula is threatened in any way, it brushes these hairs into the face, paw or other body part of its attacker. Once these hairs are embedded, they are irritating and very difficult to remove because of the barbs.
Size: 8688px × 5792px
Photo credit: © Phil Degginger / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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