Spiders can be scary, but few are dangerous to humans. Spiders are amazing creatures and fun to watch in their natural habitat. Spiders can be frustrating to us only when they invade our home in search of food.
Many people will tell you about the body parts of the spider. But many of them do not know about the anatomy of a spider. These fun-loving creatures may have some similarities to others, but some things make them truly unique.
The exterior skeleton of a spider is made out of a strong material called the cuticle. Spiders also have a relatively smaller endoskeleton, to which all of their muscles are attached. The general spectrum of colors that can be seen on spiders is black, red, brown, and orange.
A spider’s body parts are quite similar to that of many insects. Spiders have a functioning heart, a respiratory system as well as an intricate respiratory system. However, unlike known insects, spiders have only two primary body parts – the cephalothorax and an abdomen.
Let’s find out more about them!
Cephalothorax:
A spider’s cephalothorax, also known as prosoma, is built of two main parts – a head and a thorax. The eyes, legs, and mouthparts of spiders are attached to the cephalothorax itself, making it a vital part of its anatomy.
- Since spiders cannot chew their food, their mouth is shaped like a straw. This straw-like mouth structure is small in size, but can effectively suck in the liquids inside of their prey.
- Spiders have eight legs, each of which is typically made of seven different segments joined together.
- Spiders generally have eight eyes and each of them have a different lens. In some spiders, one set of eyes may be stronger than the others. The difference in the number of eyes present on a spider is used as a key factor in distinguishing between various types of spiders.
- Spiders have a set of pedipalps in front of their legs. In some cases, such as that of a tarantula, the pedipalps may be larger than usual in size, which makes them look like an extra set of legs.
Abdomen:
The abdomen of a spider is where its vital internal organs can be found. The abdomen often expands and contracts to depend on the spider’s condition.
- Spiders have book lungs which are located in their ventral abdominal area. Certain spiders have two sets of book lungs, however, most only have one set.
- Spiders conduct digestion both internally as well as externally. They often secrete their digestive fluids into their prey, which dissolves their internal tissues. Within the abdomen, spiders have coxal glands, which are the bodily organ responsible for excretion.
- The abdomen of a spider also features its reproductive organs. Male spiders have testis and female spiders have ovaries, which are used to produce eggs. Behind their book lungs, spiders have an opening called an epigastric furrow, through which the female spider receives male sperm for reproduction.
Final Words
Spiders have intriguing features as well as fascinating pests. Despite that, most people find the spiders irritating and do not want them in and around the house. To get rid of these pests, you can call professional pest control services. The expert will inspect and see how spiders are getting inside and find ways to prevent them.
