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Does anyone know why some species of tarantulas have this feature, especially Avicularia versicolor ? Does it help ward off predators or what?
pitbulllady
pitbulllady
The "Mirror Spot"
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re:re: The "Mirror Spot"
This is a patch of highly reflective, irridescent short hairs found on the rump of certain tarantula species. It's most evident on the aforementioned A. versicolor . To some people, it might appear from photos as a bald spot, but it isn't.
pitbulllady
Elizabeth said:
This is a patch of highly reflective, irridescent short hairs found on the rump of certain tarantula species. It's most evident on the aforementioned A. versicolor . To some people, it might appear from photos as a bald spot, but it isn't.
pitbulllady
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The Mirror spot...
My Versi and some of my Grammastola's have this spot too. It looks like a bald area but it is not. It looks like crushed velvet or something.
Bald areas will be pink. I don't know what this mirror spot is for. Kinda cool looking actually. :?
My Versi and some of my Grammastola's have this spot too. It looks like a bald area but it is not. It looks like crushed velvet or something.
Bald areas will be pink. I don't know what this mirror spot is for. Kinda cool looking actually. :?
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maybe its a reflector? ok just kidding, i've seen a few too and dont really know why it's there .. maybe like what's been mentioned earlier on, its used for defense ? ? who knows..
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recent studies show this patch is used to reflect harmful alpha, beta, and gamma rays from entering the tarantulas abdomen. naw, just kidding, i really dont know what the point of it is. i do know what you guys are talking about though. my rosie had one after she molted. it really wasnt really that reflective, but that patch eventually fell off, some of it landing of me creating very painful memories. i personally beleive that it could be urticating that are maybe more easily removable when defense is needed :? not really sure, makes me wonder why an avic would have it then. hmmmm........
naw, just kidding, i really dont know what the point of it is. i do know what you guys are talking about though. my rosie had one after she molted. it really wasnt really that reflective, but that patch eventually fell off, some of it landing of me creating very painful memories. i personally beleive that it could be urticating that are maybe more easily removable when defense is needed :? not really sure, makes me wonder why an avic would have it then. hmmmm........
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ok are we talking about the urticulating hairs? im pretty sure thats what you are refering too. you can see it on baby tarantulas really well its the only black hair on the things but yeah anyway it probably the urticulating hairs
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oh yeah and avics do have urticulating hairs they just arent airborn they have to rub them on to you. which probably isn't that good of a defense mechanism
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Yep, That's It!
The appearance changes, depending on what background the T is near, since it actually does reflect colors, if not images, like a mirror. Last night I was holding one of my versi's, and I was wearing a blue shirt, and the spot on the spider's butt appeared bright blue, a deeper blue than her carapace. In the pic I took of the same spider, which I posted here last week, it appears slightly yellowish, since the container was sitting on a yellow table. I'm sure it is made up of urticating hairs, but I have to wonder why it is so shiny and reflective.
pitbulllady
Raindog said:
The appearance changes, depending on what background the T is near, since it actually does reflect colors, if not images, like a mirror. Last night I was holding one of my versi's, and I was wearing a blue shirt, and the spot on the spider's butt appeared bright blue, a deeper blue than her carapace. In the pic I took of the same spider, which I posted here last week, it appears slightly yellowish, since the container was sitting on a yellow table. I'm sure it is made up of urticating hairs, but I have to wonder why it is so shiny and reflective.
pitbulllady
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I think if it is reflecting its surroundings, its purpose is camouflage.
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Obviously they've done it to confuse and baffle all of us!! I always wondered what that patch was. Maybe one of the breeders/dealers should be pm'd about this. :?
I always wondered what that patch was. Maybe one of the breeders/dealers should be pm'd about this. :?- Joined
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mirror patch
I believe even afew off the dealers will have mixed answers on grammostola sp. i have to go with johnny jon but the reflection of certain light waves is valid considering certain types of crop pest were affected by what they ingested and it oxicidized in sunlight causing death hence explaining why slings are black compared to the different coloring in adults
I believe even afew off the dealers will have mixed answers on grammostola sp. i have to go with johnny jon but the reflection of certain light waves is valid considering certain types of crop pest were affected by what they ingested and it oxicidized in sunlight causing death hence explaining why slings are black compared to the different coloring in adults
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Actually, this makes me wonder how Ts look to other critters. I know that some arthropods can see ultraviolet. For example, some flowers may have a different appearance to a bee which can see ultraviolet light. Click on this link to see what I'm trying to say:
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent591k/nectar_guide.html
Thus, the patterns and colors on a T may look very different to a non-human creature. I wonder how tarantulas look to a predator like a pepsis wasp.
Karen N.
http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/course/ent591k/nectar_guide.html
Thus, the patterns and colors on a T may look very different to a non-human creature. I wonder how tarantulas look to a predator like a pepsis wasp.
Karen N.
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only problem is when you change image it changes flowers lol
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Notice the shift in leaves
I think this might have something to do with confusing enemies/prey items. Much like how a tiger/lion swaying their tails etc.
For those T's with prominent "mirror spots" that' I keep, namely GBB's and Chaco's, they all raise their butt's when they feel they're being threatened. Oh my sub-adult G. Pulchra does that too occasionally, although the spot is less obvious.
For those T's with prominent "mirror spots" that' I keep, namely GBB's and Chaco's, they all raise their butt's when they feel they're being threatened. Oh my sub-adult G. Pulchra does that too occasionally, although the spot is less obvious.
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The distraction/confusing predators/prey idea makes sense. It prob'ly catches light and makes them focus attn higher than where the actual threat/morsel is.
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Is this Mirror Spot the curiously reflectiv spot I see on the top center of my GBB sling?