Why Do Spiders Regrow Legs?
WouterSpiders are one of the few species in nature that can regrow lost legs. They do so by molting. When they molt, they remove their exoskeleton, which peels off and a new one begins to grow. It is highly flexible, and is able to fold in various directions.
Young spiders tend to molt more frequently than adult spiders. It is thought that their ability to regrow legs helps them adapt to their environment. As they grow, they need larger exoskeletons.
A study in 2007 showed that juvenile and adult spiders that regrow their legs may actually have a disadvantage. They have less resources to spend on the process. They are also more vulnerable to predation.
Scientists think that the cost of regeneration might outweigh its benefits. They propose that the cost of regeneration may actually be a limiting factor in survival. In the wild, spiders with amputated legs may be less mobile and therefore more susceptible to predation.
In their research, Wrinn and Uetz looked at the relationship between size and mass in spiders. They found that females were significantly longer than males in their developmental period. They also looked at the frequency of self-amputation in the field.
These studies indicated that female spiders molt more than males. The number of lost forelimbs was correlated with the date captured. The number of missing forelimbs was higher in adult males.
In addition, they were also able to regenerate lost appendages after a subsequent molt. The newly grown legs were smaller than the legs of other adults, but they remained indistinguishable from the rest of the body.
