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tarantula
tarantula , name applied chiefly to several species of the large, hairy spiders of the families Theraphosidae and Dipluridae of North and South America. The body of a tarantula may be as much as 3 in. (7.6 cm) long and, with legs extended, as much as 10 in. (25.4 cm) across. The North American tarantula, Dugesiella hentzi, has a leg spread of up to 6 in. (15.2 cm) and is common in parts of the SW United States. The largest tarantulas may kill small vertebrates, but their usual food is other arthropods. The bite of a tarantula may be painful but is not usually dangerous to humans. Some Asian spiders are also called tarantulas, and there is a tailless whip scorpion genus Tarantula. Originally the name was applied to a spider of the wolf spider family, Lycosa tarentula, of S Europe, whose bite was supposed to cause tarantism, a nervous condition characterized by hysteria; the best cure was believed to be strenuous and prolonged dancing of the tarantella. Spider families are classified in the phylum Arthropoda , class Arachnida, order Araneae. |
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"tarantula." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tarantula." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tarantul.html "tarantula." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-tarantul.html |
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tarantula
ta·ran·tu·la / təˈranchələ/ • n. 1. a large hairy spider (family Theraphosidae, numerous species) found chiefly in tropical and subtropical America, some kinds of which are able to catch small lizards, frogs, and birds. 2. a large black wolf spider (Lycosa tarentula) of southern Europe whose bite was formerly believed to cause tarantism. |
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"tarantula." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tarantula." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tarantula.html "tarantula." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-tarantula.html |
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tarantula
tarantula large wolf-spider of S. Europe XVI; applied to other spiders XVIII. — medL. — It. tarantola, f. Taranto (see prec.), where it is commonly found.
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T. F. HOAD. "tarantula." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "tarantula." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tarantula.html T. F. HOAD. "tarantula." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-tarantula.html |
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tarantula
tarantula See MYGALOMORPHAE.
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MICHAEL ALLABY. "tarantula." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "tarantula." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-tarantula.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "tarantula." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-tarantula.html |
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tarantula
tarantula
•ampulla, bulla, fuller, Müller, pula, puller
•titular • Weissmuller • wirepuller
•incunabula, tabular
•preambular • glandular • coagula
•angular, quadrangular, rectangular, triangular
•Dracula, facula, oracular, spectacular, vernacular
•cardiovascular, vascular
•annular, granular
•scapula • capsular • spatula
•tarantula • nebula • scheduler
•calendula
•irregular, regular
•Benbecula, molecular, secular, specular
•cellular • fibula • Caligula • singular
•auricular, curricula, curricular, diverticula, funicular, lenticular, navicular, particular, perpendicular, testicular, vehicular, vermicular
•primula
•insular, peninsula
•fistula, Vistula
•globular
•modular, nodular
•binocular, jocular, ocular
•oscular
•copula, popular
•consular • formula • tubular • uvula
•jugular
•avuncular, carbuncular
•crepuscular, majuscular, minuscular, muscular
•pustular
•circular, semicircular, tubercular
•Ursula
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"tarantula." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 27 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "tarantula." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 27, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-tarantula.html "tarantula." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-tarantula.html |
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