Page 113 - The Miracle in the Spider

Venomous Message
Hollow fangs deliver venom
produced in adjacent tiny
bulbs. This poison is
powerful enough to be able
to kill animals such as birds,
lizards, and rabbits.

Male Delivery System
Male tarantulas are
equipped with specialized
palps, hook-shaped
appendages on the short
feeding arms near the
mouth. When ready to
mate, males weave a web
and deposit a drop of
sperm on it. The sperm is
then drawn up into the
bulb-shaped tips of the
palps, which deposit it
into the female.

Little Cat's Feet
Flanked by protective
tufts, needle-sharp
retractable claws enable
tarantulas to climb
walls. Underneath,
velvety pads of hair
cushion the weight of
the spider – and create
eight buoyant pontoons
that enable some
tarantulas to walk on
water.