Do spiders eat their own legs?

[Qoxiivi]

Ok, this going to sound ridiculous, but I was watching a spider a few years ago and it honestly appeared to be eating its own leg! Now, I have seen several spiders in my time that have six or seven legs (obviously having lost one or two somehow) and they seem to be able to move about ok. So, it appears that spiders can function on less than eight legs - albeit probably not as effectively as fully fit/healthy spiders.

Anyway, I was wondering, seeing as a spider can function with less than eight legs, would it make evolutionary sense for a spider, if food is scarce and it's otherwise faced with starvation, to eat one of its own legs as a kind of stop-gap? Their legs must contain some nutrients at least so in my mind it makes sense. If not, can anyone explain why this spider appeared to be behaving in such a way - from memory, it seemed to be tucking one leg into its mouth with two others. Thanks.

Simon

[galanthus]

Well... apparently an octopus will eat its own tentacles if it's nervous Maybe your spider was actually scared of you

[Qoxiivi]

To be honest, I think it was just bored. It was residing in the corner of a window in a small block of flats near Somerset and as days go, it was particularly dreary. Perhaps it was just having the kind of existential crisis I'm sure all spiders go through at one stage or another:

"This is rubbish, all I do is sit here all day building webs and waiting for flies. I don't even particularly like flies. I'd kill for a curry. Or some chips. I wonder what chips taste like. Actually, my leg kind of looks like a chip. If I squint. Can I squint? Sod it, I'm eating it. Nothing else to do. What's this bloke looking at...?"

Something like that. Possibly.

[Venger]

Lol, the answer is no - they might chew other spider legs but no their own.
Do you remember what type of spider it was?
Spiders can lose their legs through attack or during moulting, but its not going to pull one off to eat (as far as I know) - I suppose it could have re found its leg after it lost it.
You sure it was definately eating it? as in it wasn't attached to it.
A spider leg is full of delicate sensors, so they literally smell and taste and feel with their feet and legs.
Certain spiders will taste their feet repeatedly when following a pheremone trail - just to make absolutely sure the female is ready to mate.

[GRH]

I'm assuming the legs were still attached to the body. (Some) spiders will clean their legs by passing them through the chelicerae ('jaws'). People are often suprised that spiders 'groom' themselves, but they'd get pretty dirty (and covered in web) if they didn't!

Greg

[Doc]

I have just witnessed this phenomenon for myself and after a quick search, it has led me to this page where I feel compelled to add my experience. This evening I discovered a Giant House Spider (Tegenaria Gigantea) running around my hallway. I have to say it is one of the largest spiders I have ever seen, a fine specimen indeed even if I did feel panic stricken at the sight of such a creature. I proceeded to grab the largest jar I could find and after building up the courage, entrapped the beast for exposel outside. Unfortunately, this large male got his poor leg slightly damaged in the incident and was holding his limb awkwardly at the 'knuckle'. I took pitty on him and decided to leave him in the jar over night to recuperate alittle before chucking him back to the wilderness. Here's where it gets interesting. About an hour later, I looked in on him to see he had somehow detached the whole leg and was definitely eating it! At first I was surprised but have since concluded that, as spiders can grow new limbs, he has seen fit to detach this damaged one and use it for nourishment, in order sustain himself for the new growth. I would be interested to know if all spiders are known to do this, or if it is just reserved for the massive 'human eating' varieties?.. As I said earlier, he is about as big as they come.

[Action_Man]

I have read (somewhere) that spiders will chew off a damaged leg, must find out where i read it, i think it was Savory ...

[Dominic]

Originally Posted by Doc

I have just witnessed this phenomenon for myself and after a quick search, it has led me to this page where I feel compelled to add my experience. This evening I discovered a Giant House Spider (Tegenaria Gigantea) running around my hallway. I have to say it is one of the largest spiders I have ever seen, a fine specimen indeed even if I did feel panic stricken at the sight of such a creature. I proceeded to grab the largest jar I could find and after building up the courage, entrapped the beast for exposel outside. Unfortunately, this large male got his poor leg slightly damaged in the incident and was holding his limb awkwardly at the 'knuckle'. I took pitty on him and decided to leave him in the jar over night to recuperate alittle before chucking him back to the wilderness. Here's where it gets interesting. About an hour later, I looked in on him to see he had somehow detached the whole leg and was definitely eating it! At first I was surprised but have since concluded that, as spiders can grow new limbs, he has seen fit to detach this damaged one and use it for nourishment, in order sustain himself for the new growth. I would be interested to know if all spiders are known to do this, or if it is just reserved for the massive 'human eating' varieties?.. As I said earlier, he is about as big as they come.

I have come across a spider in my cousins house. it was on the wall. I dont know the name of it but anyway for fun i put it in a glass and set a book over it and set it beside me on the computer. so im sitting their for about an hour and i glance over at it and it had its leg in its mouth at first i thought it must be cleaning it OR something so i look away and a couple minutes later it has seven legs i looked closer and it had it in its mouth so can spiders eat their own legs

[No.9 Spider]

Spiders have the ability to 'eject' a leg, though this is usually if the leg is held by a predator and affords a chance to get away. The leg is usuallydetached at the coxa where a diaphragm seals the opening to stop the spider losing haemolymph. Can't remember offhand the name for this process, something like 'autotomy' I think.
As for devouring their own limb it's not something I've witnessed, though spiders are not wasteful, some even devouring their webs after a nights hunting.



No.9 Spider

[Meta menardi]

A very good friend of mine bites his fingernails to the extent that his fingers bleed. Same kind of thing?