Hobbies And Interests
Silk
Tarantulas do not spin webs. They do, however, produce silk, which they use to close off the entrances to their burrows. Tarantulas that live in trees spin tunnel-shaped homes.
Hunting
Their hunting technique is centered on speed and strength. Tarantulas chase their victims, wrestle them into submission and inject venom to paralyze them. They then release juices that dissolve the creature's soft tissues, leaving the spider to drink the juices in a leisurely manner.
Defense
Tarantulas defend themselves by means of barbed hairs that they "shoot" at their attackers. These hairs irritate skin, eyes and delicate membranes. They grow on the tarantula's abdomen, and when the spider feels threatened, it rubs its legs against the hairs to release them.
Venom
Despite their ferocious appearance, tarantulas are not very poisonous to humans. Their bites are seldom harmful, although in the case of the largest tarantulas, they could make you sick. Tarantulas bred in captivity are usually quite docile, while wild ones will be more aggressive and likely to bite.
Name
The name "tarantula" was first applied to a spider now recognized as part of the wolf spider family in eastern Europe. It's possible the Italian city Toranto was the origin. People thought the spider's bite caused tarantism, a nervous condition that leads to hysteria. The treatment for tarantism was to dance the tarantella --- a lively, Italian folk dance --- as long and as vigorously as possible.
World's Biggest Spider
The largest spider in the world is the Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula. It can grow up to 1 foot -- including its legs -- and preys on small animals such as bats, birds and mice. It lives in the jungles of Mexico and South America.
Odd Facts
People in some countries eat roasted tarantulas; the spider is said to taste somewhat like peanut butter. Some species rub their legs together to produce a buzzing sound; in the case of the Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula, the sound can be heard from up to 15 feet away.