Spiders. Why do they all die in the same position?

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:30 am

I found a spider under the cushion I'm sitting on (on the ground, of course) and I threw a flat heavy object onto it (what the object was is irrelevant).

However, instead of finding a squished spider, as you would expect with any other bug, the spider died like every other spider dies, with all its legs curled as close to its body as possible.

Why do they do this? It happens when you burn them, squish them, posion them, drown them, etc.

What gives?

vb_master · Post by **vb_master** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:38 am

I was eating while reading that, thanks.

Kurt_ · Post by **Kurt_** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:39 am

No problem.

siegeshot · Post by **siegeshot** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:45 am

If you notice, facehugger aliens also die the same.

I think its cuz spiders are really aliens.

I want a green and black stripped tarantula spider the size of a dog, and I want to name it Blister. Uh huh, taking that bad boy for a walk in the park would be a treat huh? By the way, I wanted one BEFORE wow made spider-pets popular.

TheOnlyOneHeFears · Post by **TheOnlyOneHeFears** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:47 am

Hahaha tasty

Maybe it's a futile defense thing? Like when hedgehogs curl up into a little ball, which offers no protection whatsoever against the 18 wheeler coming at 80mph

gamer2 · Post by **gamer2** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 10:50 am

all arachnids do that. its thier leg muscles tigtening

Rototiller · Post by **Rototiller** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 11:57 am

darn spiders... they think they can be so smart... with their paris hilton heads and broken shovvels... ah! flargymootblarg! stinking spiders...

Post by **CronoTriggerfan** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:08 pm

gamer2 wrote:all arachnids do that. its thier leg muscles tigtening

Do they even really have muscles? Wouldn't it be more along the lines of tendons?

Also, think about it; that's a natural defensive position for a threatened spider. If it were my guess, I'd say that it's just an instinctive stance for protection against threats larger than itself. Just a guess though, I have no scientific evidence to back that.

CTFan

EDIT: FOUND THE ANSWER! Just watch this short documentary on spiders, it should clear up all your questions. OR WILL IT?!?!?!

vskid · Post by **vskid** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 12:14 pm

CronoTriggerfan wrote:
gamer2 wrote:all arachnids do that. its thier leg muscles tigtening
Do they even really have muscles? Wouldn't it be more along the lines of tendons?

I think they just pump blood into a leg to make it straight, like blowing up a balloon. So if they're dead and can't keep up the blood pressure, I guess the legs just curl up.

siegeshot · Post by **siegeshot** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:30 pm

All this talk about spiders dying is making me sad.

I want a giant spider-dog. waaaaaaahhhhhhhh. Go, fetch fetch! here boy here boy!

Felino · Post by **Felino** » Sat Apr 14, 2007 8:35 pm

Well, I want a slime mould. The most interesting animal / plant thing in the world. None knows if it is plant or animal yet.

They love wheat flakes. If you cut them up, it all goes different ways. If you put one in a maze, it will split up to find the end, then join together.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slime_mould