Do Spiders Have Bones?
WouterSpiders don’t have bones, but they have an internal structure called the exoskeleton. This structure helps to support the body and provides a lot of protection. It also allows the spider to move around freely and to compete with other animals.
In addition to the spider’s exoskeleton, it also has a couple of plates that offer support to its internal organs. The spider exoskeleton is made from chitin and protein. Chitin is a fibrous material that is similar to hair and fingernails. Compared to other materials, chitin is harder to break down.
The spider’s skeleton has no bones, but it does have a system of joints that help the spider’s muscles to bend and flex its limbs. Spiders also use hydraulic pressure to push their legs outward. When a spider dies, its legs naturally contract.
Some spider species have valves in their legs to prevent them from deflating. Without these valves, spiders would be vulnerable to dying from deflation. They would not have the energy to keep their muscles warm. If they lost too much water, they wouldn’t be able to generate hydraulic pressure to push their legs outward.
Spiders have a nuanced sense of atmospheric electricity. These spiders can harness this electricity to take flight.
The spider exoskeleton is made up of several layers of cuticle. Each layer contains proteins and fibers. As the cuticle breaks, new cuticles form. During molting, the spider will shed its exoskeleton.
Most spider external appendages are attached to the cephalothorax, the prosoma.
