How Do Spiders Lose Their Legs?
WouterSpiders are one of the few species in the world that regenerate their legs. Their ability to regrow leg muscles helps them minimize the cost of lost limbs, allowing them to survive.
Despite this, spiders haven’t yet been able to replicate the human ability to regrow a missing leg. However, they have found ways to regrow a smaller limb than their original, and they can regrow a leg entirely.
Juvenile spiders, in particular, can regrow a missing limb. In fact, during the first few weeks of their lives, they undergo a series of moults. During these moults, the exoskeletons on their body come off, and they moult a new exoskeleton. This exoskeleton is soft, but is more flexible than their original one.
Adult spiders aren’t able to regenerate a full-sized leg. Instead, they lose a leg to a molt, or to fights with other spiders. Although the regenerated leg may be smaller than the original, it will grow bigger over time.
The regenerated leg isn’t quite as sturdy as the original, and it isn’t as thick. As a result, the leg may not function as well. Depending on the species, the regenerated limb will be smaller than the original.
A leg loss has many ecological implications. It may limit a spider’s access to food, for instance. Also, a missing limb can interfere with a spider’s long-term stride.
Regardless of the circumstances, it is important to remember that spiders can still live. They can move, jump, and even catch prey. But without a limb, they aren’t able to pull heavy objects around, or do much else.
