Publication Date:
2009-10-23
Description:
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. 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.. Additional evidence also disagrees with leg secretion of silk.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Notes: 〈/span〉Perez-Miles, Fernando -- Panzera, Alejandra -- Ortiz-Villatoro, David -- Perdomo, Cintya -- England -- Nature. 2009 Oct 22;461(7267):E9; discussion E9-10. doi: 10.1038/nature08404.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Author address: 〈/span〉Seccion Entomologia, Facultad de Ciencias, Igua 4225, 11400 Montevideo, Uruguay.〈br /〉〈span class="detail_caption"〉Record origin:〈/span〉 〈a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19847209" target="_blank"〉PubMed〈/a〉
Keywords:
Abdomen/anatomy & histology/physiology
;
Animals
;
Extremities/anatomy & histology/*physiology
;
Hair
;
Reproducibility of Results
;
Silk/*biosynthesis/*secretion
;
Spiders/*anatomy & histology/*physiology
Print ISSN:
0028-0836
Electronic ISSN:
1476-4687
Topics:
Biology
,
Chemistry and Pharmacology
,
Medicine
,
Natural Sciences in General
,
Physics
Permalink
