Predator Vs. Prey

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From Xplor: May/June 2020
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This issue: Tarantula vs. Scorpion

Hair-rows

Tarantulas sling arrow-sharp hairs off their bellies. The barbed bristles pepper an attacker’s skin and eyes.

Venom Daggers

To eat, tarantulas stab their fangs into prey and then pump in venom to liquify the victim’s insides.

Toxic Tail

To subdue prey or defend themselves, scorpions whip their stinger-tipped tails over their bodies and inject venom.

Perceptive Pincers

Sensitive hairs on a scorpion’s pincers feel motion. If the spider zigs, the scorpion will feel when to zag.

And the winner is…

Striped bark scorpions rarely grow larger than a grown-up’s thumb. Missouri tarantulas are often twice that big. The spider’s size could tip the odds in its favor.

Also In This Issue

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American Burying Beetle
THIS CONTENT IS ARCHIVED
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No other animals on Earth are more successful than these insects.
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Newt
THIS CONTENT IS ARCHIVED
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Lizard or salamander? Missouri’s only newt can pass for both.

This Issue's Staff

Bonnie Chasteen
Les Fortenberry
Angie Daly Morfeld
Noppadol Paothong
Marci Porter
Mark Raithel
Laura Scheuler
Matt Seek
David Stonner
Stephanie Thurber
Cliff White