Hedvig Palm by Tim Walker for the Red Valentino Fall 2013/Winter 2014 Campaign
Rose Hair Tarantula - Grammostola rosea
An stunning picture of the Rose Hair Tarantula, Grammostola rosea (Araneae - Theraphosidae), native to Northern Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina. It is a medium sized tarantula with up to 15 cm in leg span, which gets its name from the red/pink hairs covering a fairly dully colored body. Several color forms exist, which were originally thought to be different species, and has led to some confusion in both the binomial and common names.
Like all spiders, tarantulas (family Theraphosidae) synthesize silk in specialized glands and extrude it from spinnerets on their abdomen. However, it has been proved that Grammostola rosea (and other two species) produce a silk secretion directly from spigots (nozzles) on the tarsi. So, when the spider begins to slip down a smooth vertical surface, it leaves multiple strands of silk as a footprint. This discovery suggests a pathway for the evolution of spider silks.
Photo credit: ©Chris Lukhaup | Locality: not indicated (2009)
discomforted