Silk production from tarantula feet questioned/Gorb et al. reply

• Published in: Nature (London) Vol. 461; no. 7267; p. E9
• Main Authors: Pérez-Miles, Fernando, Panzera, Alejandra, Ortiz-Villatoro, David, Perdomo, Cintya, Gorb, Stanislav N, Niederegger, Senta, Hayashi, Cheryl Y, Summers, Adam P, Vötsch, Walter, Walther, Paul
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 22.10.2009
• Subjects: Insects; Legs; Scanning electron microscopy; Silk

The presence of conspicuous, dense scopulae with spatulated setae on the ventral surface of tarsi andmetatarsi of all tarantulas seemsincompatible with the presence of spinning spigots in a lower layer, because scopula setae might interfere with silk release. A 192, 1223-1232 (2006). doi:10.1038/nat...