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| The urticating hairs of theraphosid spiders. American Museum novitates ; no. 2498 |
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| Title: | The urticating hairs of theraphosid spiders. American Museum novitates ; no. 2498 |
| Authors: | Cooke, John A. L. Roth, Vincent D. Miller, Frederick H. |
| Issue Date: | 1972 |
| Publisher: | New York, N.Y. : American Museum of Natural History |
| Series/Report no.: | American Museum novitates ; no. 2498 |
| Abstract: | "The dorsal surface of the abdomen of many New World spiders belonging to the family Theraphosidae--popularly called tarantulas in the United States--bears a dense covering of specialized hairs that can provoke intense skin irritation in man on contact. Four main types of urticating hair, studied for the first time, are described and illustrated with the aid of a scanning electron microscope. The role of the hairs in nature is wholly defensive, apparently most effective against small mammals attacking spiders in their burrows. The urticarious effect of the hairs seems to be due solely to mechanical irritation and thus far there is no evidence of any chemical irritant being involved. It is shown that the urticating hairs possess considerable potential value in the confused field of theraphosid systematics"--P. [1]. |
| Description: | 43 p. : ill. ; 24 cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. 41-43). |
| URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/2246/2705 |
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