Abstract
Arising from: S. N. Gorb et al. Nature 443, 407 (2006)10.1038/443407a; Gorb et al. reply
As with all spiders, tarantulas spin silk from specialized structures in the abdomen called spinnerets, which are key features unique to the group. Recently Gorb et al.1 reported that the zebra tarantula Aphonopelma seemanni also secretes silk from its feet, which might improve its ability to climb on vertical surfaces. Here we show that when the spinnerets are experimentally sealed, the zebra tarantula cannot secrete silk or similar threads, disagreeing with previous reports by Gorb et al.1. Additional evidence also disagrees with leg secretion of silk.
Similar content being viewed by others
Enjoying our latest content?
Log in or create an account to continue
- Access the most recent journalism from Nature's award-winning team
- Explore the latest features & opinion covering groundbreaking research
or
References
Gorb, S. N. et al. Silk-like secretion from tarantula feet. Nature 443, 407 (2006)
Bond, J. E. Setae-spigot homology and silk production in first instar Antrodiaetus unicolor spiderlings (Araneae: Antrodiaetidae). J. Arachnol. 22, 19–22 (1994)
Coddington, J. A. Spinneret silk spigot morphology: evidence for the monophyly of orbweaving spiders, Cyrtophorinae (Araneae), and the group Theridiidae plus Nesticidae. J. Arachnol. 17, 71–95 (1989)
Griswold, C. E., Ramírez, M. E., Coddington, J. A. & Platnick, N. I. Atlas of phylogenetic data for entelegyne spiders. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 56, 1–324 (2005)
Raven, R. J. A new tarantula species from northern Australia (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Zootaxa 1004, 15–28 (2005)
Ross, E. S. In The Insects of Australia 405–409 (Camberra & Melbourne Univ. Press, 1991)
Merrit, D. J. The organule concept of insect sense organs: Sensory transduction and organule evolution. Adv. Insect. Physiol. 33, 192–241 (2007)
Niederegger, S. & Gorb, S. N. Friction and adhesion in the tarsal and metatarsal scopulae of spiders. J. Comp. Physiol. A 192, 1223–1232 (2006)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
PowerPoint slides
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pérez-Miles, F., Panzera, A., Ortiz-Villatoro, D. et al. Silk production from tarantula feet questioned. Nature 461, E9 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08404
Received:
Accepted:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08404
This article is cited by
-
Giant steps: adhesion and locomotion in theraphosid tarantulas
Journal of Comparative Physiology A (2021)
-
Gorb et al. reply
Nature (2009)
