///oo/\ Tarantula!
▶ All arthropods (insects, spiders and crabs) have a hard exoskeleton, which they must shed at intervals, to catch up on their growth. Known as ecdysis (from the Greek ekduo to strip off), the process is carefully coordinated, risky in the wild, and fraught with difficulties.
▶ For several days or even weeks before the molt, a tarantula will appear moody and sluggish, refusing to eat. It spins a cradle, called molting web (seen to the left of the gif), and lays on its back. Its heart rate increases dramatically and hemolymph (“blood”) is pumped into the upper body (cephalothorax) so it nearly doubles in size. The pressure cracks the carapace along the sides and front. Wave like muscle contractions in the abdomen push the old exoskeleton, lifting it off like the lid of a can. Now comes the tricky part: the spider must work its legs out of the old shell, with forward facing hairs and bristles keeping it from slipping back inside.
One well-placed kick, and the ordeal is over – here, have a cigar!
♺▶ Fun Facts (aka everything you wanted to know about molting but were afraid to ask):
● Before the molt, the spider secretes a digesting fluid that loosens and eats away at the old cuticle (yum!).
● While spiderlings molt several times a year, mature females, who can live up to 40 years molt every other year. Unfortunately, many males do not survive their last adult molt, because their male sex organs get stuck in the exoskeleton (sorry, guys!).
● The molt lasts from ~20 minutes, in babies, to several days in the adult (ladies, you sympathize, right?).
● During a molt, spiders also shed their fangs, chelicerae (which they use for grasping), their throats and stomach lining, female genital organs (omg!), and the lining of their “book lungs”.
● A spider that has lost a leg can regenerate one during a molt.
Credit: This has been a fun Google+ #collaboration with the lovely Carmelyne Thompson for #ScienceEveryday . Carmelyne gif-ed the ecdysis time-lapse for this post, after we discussed another cool spider molt gif on her post (http://goo.gl/fVo5fp). If you don’t have Carmelyne in your circles for more science fun, you should!
More reading: http://goo.gl/U6w0cV
madame scientist's not-so-mad musings 
I look
That is so wild. Amazing too
Creepy and cool 🙂
wow!! that is absolutely fascinating!
I think it’s cool but more-than-4 legged creatures better stay away from me. 😀
This one has sixteen at one point!! :O
Very informative and interesting.
Very informative and interesting.
Hey! How you been? I’ve been cold followed by some warmth.
You know the one thing I remember about tarantulas was out in west Texas and I was about 2 1/2 or 3 years old and I looked over and there was one right next to me! Jeez, almost as tall as I was sitting.
Well, I freaked out and went running to the front screaming, “There’s a giant spider over there!!!
My brother looked at me and calmly said, “No, it’s not a spider, it’s a tarantula.”
I said, “I don’t care, but it’s huge!”
When we got over there the ‘spider’ was gone…and nobody believes a kid anyway. 🙂
I don’t understand why they are so popular as pets!
I love you six legged, two eyed ASCII tarantula! Creepy!
I just have a problem coming to terms when things that have more than 4 legs. It’s like having 3 heads to me 😀 But fascinating creatures.
Not even jumping spiders? How about the peacock spider? It’s so cute, Panah Rad ! 🙂
Creepy things are cool!
Fact number 2 gave me a laugh, specially the “sorry, guys”.
Thanks for the share, Rajini!
Why ASCII, Víktor Bautista i Roca ? And it’s EIGHT legs!
I once had a spider with twelve legs living in my garage…
Rajini Rao Here’s me about to go to bed too 8-/
Would you say that was a mutant then, Amber Petchey ? I think the two chelicerae are in addition to the 8 legs. But that still makes only 10.
Rajini Rao they are cute. I like these creatures. Spiders don’t bother me. It’s scorpions that I have a bad memory of 🙂
Sweet dreams, Paul C Bosley hehe.
Susana M. , I did feel sympathy for the lady spiders having to go through weeks long molting every other year! Reminded me of my dismal track record at childbirth ..but then, I stopped at two 🙂
Rajini Rao I’m talking about this one: ///oo/\
Panah Rad They hurt really bad. I’ve been stung three times. Once on the little toe.
I think spiders are cute too, Panah Rad . I draw the line at roaches. Ugh.
Ohh, yes of course Víktor Bautista i Roca ! It also looks like it is rocking on! 🙂
The number of times I thought a tarantula died only to find out it was her molt..
Ah, so you have actually seen this, Carissa Braun ? I read that the spider should not be fed for a few days following because it is so vulnerable, even to a live cricket.
Ultimate out-of-body experience.
I could probably pull out some mystic quote relating to reincarnation, to fit 🙂
Unfortunately always catch them at the end or far after, Rajini Rao, but yes. They’ll make a nice webbing around themselves to help remove the molt. When you see a lot of webbing, usually it’s best to leave them be; vulnerable to everything including a cricket!
Wow makes my flesh crawl yuck
Ralf Haring , indeed this one arose from a discussion of that shared gif. We couldn’t quite figure out how the spider wriggled out and then we found a time lapse of this tarantula molt that made more sense. I was asked about the biology behind the molting on Carmelyne’s share of the other gif, and that led to this post 🙂
The best part is that you can take the shed exoskeleton and strategically place it in your home for when you are expecting company. Let the hilarity ensue!
I like the way you think, Shannan Muskopf 😉
That is so, so creepy/cool, Rajini Rao. Fascinating. This last summer we were in Maine and eating lots of lobster. I wonder how much of the below molting process is similar to the tarantula:
They will increase their size by about 20% at every molt. By the time a lobster is of legal size, it will have molted about 20-25 times, averaging 4-5 molts a year. After a molt the animal is vulnerable because the new shell is very soft. It will hide among the rocks on the bottom for 6-8 weeks until its shell hardens enough to offer some protection.
http://lobstermanspage.net/lobstrs/lfacts.html
That is extraordinary information, Gideon Rosenblatt . It really does sound like an ordeal! 25 molts/year with a couple of months of vulnerability each time. It’s amazing this process survived evolutionary selection.
Thats badass!
nothing is destroyed /transfered and used /process of fashion
dressanimal its seem tobe coco channel or gucci or yve st laurent…….the way its!Very cool, Gnotic Pasta . I had not heard of a tarantula migration. I’d have to find a handy rock that was out of their path, though 🙂
I hate it when that happens to me!
Jim Philips , a face lift? 😀
Thanks, Gnotic Pasta . The link also explains the other reason males die young.
Like the RoboRoach, Mark Bruce ?
http://goo.gl/wtAqFW
Rajini Rao sitting well on the other side of the Witching Hour this post is just brilliant on so many different levels. 🙂
Hope you are not arachnophobic, David Amerland ! That was one concern I had posting this.
Rajini Rao only as a kid growing up in Australia where there was a danger of Redbacks. Totally made smile as it brought back memories. 🙂
Apparently, an antivenom has been available since 1956 and there have been no deaths from the bite of a redback spider since. Whew!
Rajini Rao do you know I had no idea of that in 1975? No internetz (and no one told no one nothing) 😀
Pssst. Don’t let on that we were around in the days before _ 😀
Has anyone watched Arachnophobia? 🙂
Do you recommend it, fan tai ?
Heh, I watched it as a kid when it came out. Don’t really remember the plot too well, other than the giant spider in the barn… B movie, but probably fun with a few friends or if you are into spiders or like to scientifically critique it… 😛
I took my lab to watch Contagion and we made so many criticisms while watching that we nearly got thrown out of the theater 😛
Rajini Rao lol – I can imagine 🙂
Regenerate a lost limb!?
Is it a perfect regeneration or is it as messed up as in crabs?
Rajini Rao wow. Rottentomatoes gives it a 91%. That makes it a must see 🙂
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/arachnophobia/
Nature is so beautiful, isn’t it guys (^_^)
I did like it! Here is my G+ review 🙂
https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RajiniRao/posts/ie4KbLy1exs
Rajini Rao what was even better was they interviewed guy who runs the company who produced contagion, I think on Colbert Report. He said the tea party idiots were screaming about how they wanted to kill the CDC.
Then contagion came out. And they went and watched it.
And nothing more was said about killing the CDC…
Now THAT is impressive! 🙂
Freaky!
wow, this is creepy and fascinating at the same time …
It could be screaming too while kicking. Who knows?!
I will blame you for my nightmares. 😛
Oh noes, Marisa Feathers 🙂
Rusty Van Horn might be interested in these facts.
yeaaa!!!
u r a science lover and i love u for that
Muted and uncircled. The whole bloody lot of you.
Spiders give me the creeps. This post is seriously well put together though. Interesting facts! Thank you.
Shit once a tarantula was on my hand and I didn’t know it was a tarantula until. I thought it was just a spider but its now I got to know its poisonous. shit!
Suddenly I understand the phrase ‘terpsichorean echydiast’, which reoccurred in some second-rate books that I read as a teen.
That said it also explains some odd things found in the basement, etc. 🙂 I had not realized that spiders could live up to 40 years. That’s amazing. I will have to consider putting more of them out of doors instead of squishing them when my family screams.
So awesome
what is this?
Fascinating. Thank you Rajini Rao
By the way, I’ve come across tarantula migrations in California at certain times of the year. That is an amazing sight.
The question I have is, are each of the new legs inside one of the previous ones? Or are they bound up separately for the push outward, or… some third alternative I can’t fathom?
Rajini Rao You are so cool – now I understand Carmelyne Thompson ‘s post. An amazing process.
[?]oohh is dingers somthig. look niice
great information…..
The post was really very informative and fascinating. Nature really is a home to very fascinating and intriguing creatures.
Decidedly, Rajini Rao . These were full on, additional four legs. It was an attic spider.
Whoa! Gives me goosebumps!
Not a big arachnid fan.
EDIT: Do the genitals grow back then Rajini Rao ?
Before watching the gif I was like “oooh ooh I want one!!” And afterwards I was like … “I knew it. They’re out to get me.”
Greg S. , each new leg molts inside the old one. The spider has to wriggle out of all eight legs, plus the fang bearing chelicerae. I read that they prop themselves up on pairs of legs as they wriggle out of others.
Marta Rauch , thank you. I learned about tarantula migrations from the comments in this post. Another risky endeavor, all for the chance to mate!
Very cool post Rajini Rao ~ I don’t mind spiders and will always take one outside if it gets trapped in the house–but I didn’t know about the molting and shedding.
Rajini Rao Super interesting! I wonder how they work the regrowing of lost legs during molts…
It’s curious how some animals can regenerate body parts and other cannot…we have much to learn, Greg S. 🙂
Mara Rose , I don’t mind spiders either! Also since they can be long lived, it makes more sense to just move them to another location.
This looks so intriguing!
Spring is in the air!
K M Idamari sorry for the late response to your question, but I did not know that crab leg regeneration could be defective. When I looked it up, I was somewhat dismayed that crabs are routinely declawed for harvesting, and thrown back in the water. This is legit in many countries. I can see why this is done since the claw can be up to 50% of the crab’s body weight and is the edible part anyway. Most of the time, the claws do grow back but a quarter of the crabs die of trauma.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declawing_of_crabs
This was a very interesting, informative, and (bonus!) entertaining read. I really like your writing style.
I had no idea tarantulas could live that long!
Thank you, Angela Mia . We share a love of writing 🙂
You know how a shoe that is too small feels? Being free to expand has got to feel good!
that’s cool but freaky. I hate spiders. Next time please post something on butterflies !!!
My apologies, Swagoto Ghosh . I was indeed concerned that this may set off arachnophobic stress in some people. Will definitely post something prettier next time 🙂
Rajini Rao
no, please don’t apologise. Its alright, its cool.
Shinae Choi Robinson Not icky at all! If it helps, think of it as a land crab.
mmm… yummy crabs… 😛
Shinae Choi Robinson You may enjoy the two following links then 😛
https://plus.google.com/115858612877723984178/posts/gaUXitL74ug
https://plus.google.com/115858612877723984178/posts/7W5jqDY1hNj
Excellent links, fan tai , thanks! 🙂
Also, on a reshare, Gary Ray R pointed to research showing that “Controlled induction of molting could provide an abundant and predictable supply of soft-shelled crabs, a benefit to the soft crab industry and to consumers of seafood”. Together with the comment on harvesting only crab legs and allowing them to regrow in molts, makes all this very relevant to you crab-eating folks 🙂
Thank you for the New Year wishes, Shinae Choi Robinson . Looking forward to more adventures in cooking and watching the Robinson family blossom.
Rajini Rao
why aren’t u answering me?
Thanks Rajini Rao, I’m one of those that really likes soft shell crab. Years ago I lived beside the Susquehanna River and when the soft shell crab season came it was a gourmet delight. Now one can get it year round because of this discovery.
What is your question, Swagoto Ghosh ?
Gary Ray R , adding your comment to the list of things I learned from this post 🙂
Actually, I hadn’t considered that soft shelled crabs were just regular crabs right after molting.
Best soft shelled crab I had was a soft shelled crab sandwich in Atlanta… So yummy
That is definitely a nope….
I knew that food scientists had discovered something to make crabs molt on demand, never knew what it was. From spiders to crabs, learned a lot today. Plus that is a terrific gif that will haunt all us arachnophobes.
Oops, Gary Ray R 😛
Irving X. Olivero S. =0!!! hay de esas bajo tu cama
Rajini Rao okay, EBCDIC 8 – legged spider not ASCII?
Jim Gorycki , once again without the shorthand, please (for us biologists on this thread)! Are you referring to ///oo/\ ? 🙂
SWEET MOTHER OF DARWIN. #NSFW (Not Safe for Wes) / #NSFPWA (Not Safe for People with Arachnophobia)
Rajini Rao
my question was that, what makes a teenager get addicted towards something?
Swagoto Ghosh , that’s a rather broad and general question and I’m not the person to answer it. My research is not on addiction. There are many social and even genetic risk factors that contribute to addiction.
holy crap
WTF Mate
Kay Shaw , hopefully a delicious shudder judging by the smiley? 🙂
i thought that was a tarantula fight
yeuhhh..yuk
Just wanted to wish you a happy Valentines day Rajini. Huggs.
Thanks and right back at You, Jesse H ❤
Valentine’s Day poem and post is here: http://goo.gl/XoncAm
Verry nice pic
Oooh, a striptease!
WONDERFUL
Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow
Creepy😱
At first I didn’t understand it but now I do cool
So how big did it become?
That is the most awesome but disgusting thing I have ever saw
………..OHHHHHHHHHHH…. it sheded its skin
Did the guy who made the video get hurt?
What would u do with the sheared skin… I would scare my mom
Amazing 😆
Veronica E thanks for identification. Your daughter must have been a handful! 🙂
I can see why you would be proud of her! I bet she could tell us a lot more about arachnids.
⊙_⊙!
هههه
عبود البصراوي wtf
owo
Which we could do that, new skin ever so often would be great
I showed that to a couple of friends, two felt sick, one though it was weird and the other felt sick. I’m going to try I on my parents next XD
Nosotros lo llamamos mudan, o cambian de piel o mas bien botan el cascaron viejo.
Nice
ugly