Hi emoholes,
Following a thorough search of various documents and numerous
websites, I have found no evidence that there is anything special
about the knees of the Red Kneed Tarantula apart from the red rings on
them.
The following are excerpts describing the appearance of the Red kneed
Tarantulas taken from various websites substantiating this lack of
evidence.
Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
(Brachypelma smithii)
Description:
?The tarantula has two major body sections. The cephalothorax (head
and thorax) and the opisthosoma (the abdomen). Of the tarantula's legs
the first two are used for holding prey and the others are used for
walking. Its legs are jointed and if a leg is 'lost' it will grow
back. A whole leg takes seven years to re-grow.
Two claws on each 'foot' enable the spider to grip and climb up
slippery surfaces. Palps on the end of the legs allow the spider to
smell, taste and feel. It has eight eyes positioned around the head to
see both forward and backwards. Even with so many eyes tarantulas
don't have great vision, so use sensitive leg hairs for guidance.
Although usually peaceful, a threatened Mexican red-kneed tarantula
will rear up and display the red bristles on its body. By rubbing its
back legs, hair can be dropped as a defence causing blindness or a
painful rash in its victim. Two hollow fangs may be used to inject
venom.?
Zoo Rainforest
http://www.zoorainforest.co.nz/tarantula.html
========================================
Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula
Brachypelma smithii
Also Called: Mexican Orange Kneed Tarantula
?Mexican Red Kneed Tarantulas are usually black with bright red knees
and their bodies are covered with tiny hairs. Their first two legs are
used for holding prey and the remaining six legs for walking. If a leg
is lost it will grow completely back within seven years. The females
are larger than the males. Mexican Red Kneed Tarantulas are usually
peaceful, however, if threatened they will rear up and display the red
bristles on their body. As a defense, the Mexican Red Kneed Tarantulas
can rub their back legs causing hair to drop causing blindness or a
painful rash to the victim. They can also bite, injecting venom into
the victim through their hollow fangs. Mexican Red Kneed Tarantulas
are nocturnal.?
The Big Zoo: Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula
http://www.thebigzoo.com/Animals/Mexican_Red_Kneed_Tarantula.asp
========================================
?The red kneed tarantula has red knees and the rest of it is black. It
lives on the forest floor in a den of roots in the rainforest. The red
kneed tarantulas eats frogs, small snakes, beetles, lizards and even
bats??
Chenowith: Tarantula
http://www.chenowith.k12.or.us/ces/1999_2000/Rainforest2/tarantula.html
========================================
About the Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantula
?The body is covered in tiny hairs & generally brown with red knees,
giving it it's name??
Blackbrook Zoological Park
http://www.blackbrookzoologicalpark.co.uk/showfactsheet.php?species_id=1
========================================
MEXICAN RED-KNEED TARANTULA (Bird Eating Spider) ? the facts
Brachypelma smithi..
Physical Characteristics:
?The leg span of a Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula is 15-18cm (6-7in). The
tarantula's body is black or dark brown in color. The joints of this
spider's legs are a brilliant red and orange color. On the end of each
leg, the tarantula has two claws which are used for climbing. Like all
spiders, the two major body sections of a Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula
include its opisthosoma (abdomen) and the cephalothorax (head and
thorax). It has a grouping of eight eyes which are located just above
its mouth, enabling both forward and rear vision. Even with its many
eyes the spider has poor vision and must rely on sensitive leg hairs
to guide itself.?
Anglia- Wild at Heart
http://www.angliatv.co.uk/wildatheart/animalinfo_p7.shtml
========================================
Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula
Scientific Name Brachypelma smithi
Description:
?An attractively marked spider conspicuous by the bright orange-red
markings around the middle of each leg, hence its common name. The
rest of the spider is predominantly dark brown in colour with a fawn
brown ring around the head area or cephalothorax and similar colored
bands on the legs below the 'red knees'. As typical tarantulas, they
have a heavy, robust body covered in short dark hairs. Some of these
hairs can be flicked off by the back legs and act as irritants to the
eyes and skin of predators. These 'urticating' hairs are also very
effective against humans so, although this species is placid and
rarely bites, handling can cause nasty skin reactions??
The Australian Reptile Park
http://www.reptilepark.com.au/redkneedtarantula.htm
========================================
Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula ( Brachypelma smithi)
?They have bright orange-red markings around the middle of each leg.
The rest the spider is predominantly dark brown in color with a fawn
brown ring around the head area or cephalothorax and similar colored
bands on the legs below the 'red knees'. They have a heavy body
covered in short dark hairs. Some of these hairs can be flicked off by
the back legs and act as irritants to the eyes and skin of predators.
The spider has a leg span of around 15-17cm. They prefer to ambush
their prey. They eat insects, scorpions and other spiders??
Endangered World
http://www.endangeredworld.envy.nu/Endangered%20species%20in%20North%20America.html
========================================
?Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantulas are known for being very docile?
?Their body is covered with stiff hair and is black and grey in color,
with red bands on its joints and the side of its thorax (front body
section). The abdomen (rear body section) is covered with red hair.
Urticating hairs (hairs with toxin in them) are located on the back of
its abdomen. These hairs may be flicked at predators with the
intention of irritating their skin and eyes.?
Happy Hollow Park and Zoo
http://www.happyhollowparkandzoo.org/zoo/theanimals/introducing.php3/MRKTar
Search criteria:
?Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula?
?Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula? knees
?Mexican Red Kneed Tarantula? structure OR body
?Brachypelma smithi?
?Brachypelma smithi? knees
I hope the information provided is helpful. If you have any questions
regarding my answer please don?t hesitate to ask before rating.
Best regards,
rainbow-ga |
