Tarantula

Tarantulas have a wide range of defenses. Some species ward off their attackers by leaning back on their haunches, raising their heads and legs, and exposing their fangs. Other species turn their back on their attacker and squirt an unpleasant substance into the adversary's face. Or, the spider may use its legs to scrape the very fine hairs from the top of its abdomen into the air. Each hair is covered with sharp pints and, if they come into contact with either eyes or skin, they cause pain and even temporary blindness. These defenses are used by the tarantulas in defending themselves from predators such as coatimundis, raccoons, and skunks, which dig tarantulas out of their burrows. The tarantula's most deadly enemy, however, is the pepsis, or spider-hunting wasp, also known as the tarantula hawk. The wasp is much smaller than the tarantula. It enters the spider's burrow and paralyzes it with its sting. It then drags the tarantula back to its nest and feeds it to its larvae.

After mating, the eggs develop inside the female's body. After they are born, the young do not mature for some time. American desert species can take up to 10 years to fully mature; tropical forest species take only 3-4 years. As in all spiders, the tarantula's growth proceeds through a series of molts whereby it sheds its skin. Only after the final molt has occured can the spider's sex be determined.