How Do Spiders Get Air?
WouterSpiders are arachnids, and they have a respiratory system that is different from that of humans. They can go days, weeks, and even months without getting air.
Spiders breathe using a system called hemolymph. This fluid contains a copper-based substance called hemocyanin. The hemolymph carries oxygen and carbon dioxide from the spider to the atmosphere. The color of the fluid is a light blue. It is similar to the blood that a spider produces.
Some species of spiders have only one type of breathing apparatus. Others have both. Most arachnid species use a combination of both, although some have one or two pairs of book lungs.
Book lungs are thin, leaf-like structures that contain air and blood. They are situated on the front end of a spider. They are open to air through slits in the abdomen. The slits are never closed, but they expand and become wide during intense activity.
Some species of spiders have tracheae, which are long tubes that run through the body. They are attached to the exoskeleton. The tracheae open directly to the surface through tiny holes.
Some arachnid species, such as the daddy longlegs, have a single pair of book lungs. Other species, such as the orb weaver, have a single pair of tubular tracheae.
Another way spiders get air is by building webs. They make these webs to mark their openings. The webs are a flag to signal the pores that are being formed.
