Here are some tarantula related words and their meanings.
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Abdomen
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This is the rear part of the
tarantula where the organs are, heart, book lungs, web glands and ovaries
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Arboreal
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We use this word to describe
a tarantula that lives above ground level usually in trees.
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Carapace
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This is the almost circular
part at the front of the tarantula when viewed from above, in many species
and when it is viewed in natural light it will have a beautiful coloured
sheen.
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Invertebrates
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This word is used to describe
a animal that doesn't have a back bone, and will most often have an
external skeleton (exoskeleton)
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Pedipalps
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These are what appear to be
small legs at the front of the tarantula, it's actually an extention
of the mouth parts. when a male matures you will notice the "feet"
on these small legs will change, it will appear as he is wearing boxing
gloves.
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Sperm web
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This is a special web made by
mature tarantulas to transfer sperm into his "boxing gloves at
the end of the pedipalps in preparation for mating..
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Spinnerets
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These are located at the back
of the abdomen and look like small fingers, the are used for laying
the web, there are also 2 smaller spinnerets just under the rear of
the abdomen.
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Terrestrial
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We use this word to describe
a tarantula that lives at ground level or in a burrow.
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Urticating hairs
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Urticating hairs are the hairs
on the abdomens of many tarantulas, they use these to defend themselves
when they feel threatened, they use their back legs to scratch the hairs
off their abdomen and these hairs are released into the air, they can
be breathed in and embed themselves into skin as they are barbed, they
can cause a lot of discomfort especially in the eyes.
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