| Re: Unidentified spider with damaged leg
I am quite surprised to see a leg in that state. Spider legs work by the pressure of fluid extending and muscles working against the pressure bending the leg. Because of this, "punctures" in the legs mean the leg is a fluid loss to the spder, so they automatise damaged legs, closing off the leak.
I wonder if this is in fact a partially regenerated leg following a final moult to maturity.
Different spider and very different moulting patterns, but a Mygalomorpgh (Tarantula) that was given to my daughter which had a damaged back leg when she got it, regenerated a healthy leg when it moulted last year. My guess is that she lost the leg some time ago, and it gradually improved with each moult. |