What Happens If a Spider Breaks a Leg?
WouterA spider’s legs are necessary for its web-building abilities. They also play a role in controlling its prey.
Spiders have four pairs of jointed legs and two to three terminal claws. In addition to the exoskeleton, the spider has a thorax that contains mouthparts and an epigynum.
The thorax also houses the eyes. It is joined with the carapace by a slim waist. Some spiders have reproductive openings, such as a gonopore, on their thorax.
When a spider loses a leg, it can be replaced by a new one. During the regeneration process, the spider uses its own muscles to move the new exoskeleton. This is done to minimize costs associated with the leg loss.
Some spiders molt frequently during their lives. Others undergo delayed molts. These delayed molts may be due to a faulty hormone balance.
Usually, a small injury during molting is fatal. However, many spider species lower themselves on the silk line during molting. If the spider is not able to molt, it may dry out and die.
Another reason why spiders molt is to increase their size. To molt, the spider secretes a fluid called hemolymph. Hemolymph expands the cephalothorax and creates a gap between the old and the new exoskeleton.
Spiders have a number of advantages over other insects, including their ability to regenerate lost legs. Regeneration takes away resources from growth and survival.
However, some spiders are not adapted for regeneration. These spiders may be less mobile, or have a harder time escaping predators.
