Tarantula Dorsal Anatomy

Knowing the body parts of your tarantula can be a hard at times. Here we have the Tarantula Dorsal Anatomy.

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Dorsal Tarantula Anatomy

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Tarantula in picture: The Brazilian Red and White (Nhandu chromatus)

• Chelicerae: The mouthpart of a tarantula, also where you will find its fangs.
• Pedipalp: The second pair of appendages of the chelicerates, usually confused as additional legs.
• Leg(s) I, II, III, IV: A tarantula has 8 legs in total which it uses to move around and climb. They all connect to the prosoma.
• Carapace: This is the hard upper shell of the tarantula’s exoskeleton.
• Eyes (also known as ocular tubercle): This is where the tarantula eyes are housed so it can see.
• Fovea (also known as the foveal groove): This is the point of internal muscle attachment for the Tarantula.
• Pedicel: This is a flexible cylinder that joins the tarantula exoskeleton body (prosoma) to its abdomen (opisthosoma).
• Opisthosoma: The rear section of the tarantula that is also called the abdomen. This houses booklungs and the heart internally.
• Spinnerets: The silk spinning organ of a tarantula. They use this to make web. 
• Urticating Hairs: Also sometimes referred to as bristles are the irritating hairs on some tarantula that is uses as a defense mechanism. 

In our next anatomy chapter we will go and explore the underside of the tarantula.