Do Spiders Need Oxygen?

Spiders do not have true blood, but they do have an oxygen-carrying substance called hemolymph. This is a watery solution that circulates in the sinuses of the internal organs. It contains cells, and carries oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Spiders can survive up to eight weeks without food. They can also survive for more than three weeks in an airtight plastic container.

The survival of spiders depends on the species. Jumping spiders have a more complex respiratory system. Some have one trachea, while others have two.

Tracheae in spiders enter the legs and prosoma, which are organs that carry oxygen. Although tracheae do not prevent fatigue, they do provide oxygen to the nervous system.

The maximum oxygen consumption of a spider is between two and ten times its resting rate. However, individual variation may influence this.

Spiders have a respiratory surface area that is directly proportional to their volume. This means that they are more sensitive to available oxygen than other poikilotherms. Moreover, the oxygen requirement of spiders is lower than that of insects.

For this reason, spiders can survive for longer periods of time than mammals. While they cannot hold their breath underwater, they can swim for several minutes.

Some spiders, such as micro whip scorpions, have cutaneous respiration. Their skin can absorb oxygen, but the skin cannot pump it out. In addition, the skin of some sea spiders is tough, and it would be hard for them to absorb oxygen through their skin.