Hobbies And Interests
Structure of a Spider's Leg
Spiders have eight legs, each of which is composed of seven sections.They are very flexible and provide a wide range of motions. Spider legs are encased in the spider's exoskeleton. They also have very fine hairs running down to the tip of their legs. These hairs range in function. They may be sensory organs, provide extra grip or be used in grooming. Some spiders have legs which end in several small claws.
Gripping
Depending on their natural environment, spiders have different methods to grip surfaces. Spiders that commonly crawl along the ground or other surfaces have legs that end in small tufts of hairs. Those hairs are specially designed to grip moist surfaces, allowing the spider to crawl on smooth or angled surfaces. Spiders that make webs have legs that end in claws. Those claws allow the spider to grip individual strands of the web, allowing the spider to keep from getting tangled in its own web.
Leg Movement
Spiders use a unique combination of muscles and bodily pressure to move their legs. Spiders have muscles which are capable of contracting their legs and pulling them towards their body. To open its legs, the spider pumps fluid into them, creating a pressure buildup that causes the legs to expand outwards. Some spiders can use this hydraulic-pressure system to jump great distances.
Five Pairs of Legs?
Spiders also have two small appendages near their mouth called pedipalps. Those appendages resemble small legs, but they are not used for walking. They are actually used to help manipulate food during feeding. Each pedipalp has six segments. Some species also have sensory hairs on their pedipalps. In mature males, the last segment of each pedipalp has a reproductive organ. Mature males use this organ to inseminate females.