109-602: Taranto ( Italian pronunciation: [ˈtaːranto] ; Tarantino : Tarde ) is a coastal city in Apulia , Southern Italy . It is the capital of the province of Taranto , serving as an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base. Founded by Spartans in the 8th century BC during the period of Greek colonisation , Taranto was among the most important poleis in Magna Graecia , becoming
218-574: A November 1940 British air attack on the Regia Marina naval base stationed here, which today is called the Battle of Taranto . The city's name is the origin of the common name " tarantula ", originating from the terms tarantella , tarantism and tarantula — although no spider species of the family Theraphosidae inhabit the area. In ancient times, residents of Taranto bitten by the large local Wolf Spider , Lycosa tarentula , would promptly do
327-509: A commercial power and a sovereign city of Magna Graecia ,. Its independence and power came to an end as the Romans expanded throughout Italy. Taranto won the first of two wars against Rome for the control of Southern Italy: it was helped by Pyrrhus , king of Greek Epirus , who surprised Rome with the use of war elephants in battle, a thing never seen before by the Romans. Rome won the second war in 272 BC. This subsequently cut off Taranto from
436-499: A cultural, economic and military power that gave birth to philosophers, strategists, writers and athletes such as Archytas , Aristoxenus , Livius Andronicus , Heracleides , Iccus , Cleinias , Leonidas , Lysis and Sosibius . By 500 BC, the city was among the largest in the world, with a population estimated up to 300,000 people. The seven-year rule of Archytas marked the apex of its development and recognition of its hegemony over other Greek colonies of southern Italy. During
545-420: A deterrent. With humans, they can cause irritation to eyes, nose, and skin, and more dangerously, the lungs and airways, if inhaled. The symptoms range from species to species, from person to person, from a burning itch to a minor rash. In some cases, tarantula bristles have caused permanent damage to human eyes. Some setae are used to stridulate , which makes a hissing sound. These bristles are usually found on
654-480: A dolphin, with the reverse side showing the likeness of a hippocamp , a horse-fish amalgam which is depicted in mythology as the beast that drew Poseidon's chariot. Taras was also the centre of a thriving decorated Greek pottery industry during the 4th century BC. Most of the South Italian Greek vessels known as Basilican ware were made in different workshops in the city. Unfortunately, none of
763-457: A female mate. Although females continue to molt after reaching maturity, males rarely do again once they reach adulthood. Those that do often can become stuck during the molting process due to their sexual organs and die. Females can live for 30 to 40 years. Grammostola rosea spiders, which eat once or twice a week, have lived up to 20 years in captivity. Some have survived on water alone for up to two years. After reaching sexual maturity,
872-484: A female tarantula normally mates and lays eggs once per year, although they do not always do so. As with other spiders, the mechanics of intercourse are quite different from those of mammals . Once a male spider reaches maturity and becomes motivated to mate, he weaves a web mat on a flat surface. The spider then rubs his abdomen on the surface of this mat, and in so doing, releases a quantity of semen. He may then insert his pedipalps (short, leg-like appendages between
981-436: A group of large and often hairy spiders of the family Theraphosidae . As of December 2023 , 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera . The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Theraphosidae, although many other members of the same infraorder ( Mygalomorphae ) are commonly referred to as "tarantulas" or "false tarantulas". Some of the more common species have become popular in
1090-694: A long vigorous dance like a jig , in order to sweat the venom out of their pores — even though the wolf spider's venom is not fatal to humans. The frenetic dance became known as the Tarantella . In geology , Taranto gives its name to the Tarantian Age of the Pleistocene Epoch. Taranto faces the Ionian Sea . It is 14.5 m (48 ft) above sea level . It was built on a plain running north/north-west–southeast, and surrounded by
1199-487: A maximum of 4 cm ( 1 + 1 ⁄ 2 in). Theraphosa apophysis (the pinkfoot goliath) was described 187 years after the goliath birdeater, so its characteristics are not as well attested. T. blondi is generally thought to be the heaviest tarantula, and T. apophysis has the greatest leg span. Two other species, Lasiodora parahybana (the Brazilian salmon birdeater) and Lasiodora klugi , rival
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#17327728010341308-465: A period of several days; the venom of the African tarantula Pelinobius muticus also causes strong hallucinations. For Poecilotheria species, researchers have described more than 20 bites with the delayed onset of severe and diffuse muscle cramps, lasting for several days, that in most cases resolved completely with the use of benzodiazepines and magnesium . In all cases, seeking medical aid
1417-464: A postultimate molt , which is unlikely in natural habitats because they are vulnerable to predation, but has happened in captivity, though rarely. Most males do not live through this molt , as they tend to get their emboli, mature male sexual organs on pedipalps , stuck in the molt . Most tarantula fanciers regard females as more desirable as pets due to their much longer lifespans. Wild-caught tarantulas are often mature males because they wander out in
1526-509: A single genus, Aranea . In 1802, Charles Athanase Walckenaer separated mygalomorph spiders into a separate genus, Mygale , leaving all other spiders in Aranea . However, Mygale had already been used in 1800 by Georges Cuvier for a genus of mammals (in Greek , mygale means " shrew "). Accordingly, in 1869, Tamerlan Thorell used the family name "Theraphosoidae" (modern Theraphosidae) for
1635-621: A species of wolf spider native to Mediterranean Europe. The name is derived from the southern Italian town of Taranto . The term tarantula was subsequently applied to almost any large, unfamiliar species of ground-dwelling spider, in particular to the Mygalomorphae and especially the New World Theraphosidae . Compared to tarantulas, wolf spiders are not particularly large or hairy, and so among English speakers in particular, usage eventually shifted in favour of
1744-636: A straight direction however the side streets were purposely built narrow and winding to impede the passage of an invading army. Incorporating the Aragon Castle , Doric Columns , City Hall, Clock Tower and Piazza Fontana, it is situated and entirely enclosed on the artificial island between the Big and Little Seas and is reached from the New City by crossing the Ponte Girevole ( swing bridge ) from
1853-410: A tarantula may signal its intention to attack by rearing up into a "threat posture", which may involve raising its prosoma and lifting its front legs into the air, spreading and extending its fangs, and (in certain species) making a loud hissing by stridulating . Tarantulas often hold this position for longer than the duration of the original threat. Their next step, without biting, may be to slap down on
1962-400: Is a long, slender tube located along the top of the opisthosoma . The heart is neurogenic as opposed to myogenic, so nerve cells instead of muscle cells initiate and coordinate the heart. It pumps hemolymph to all parts of the body through open passages often referred to as sinuses, and not through a circular system of blood vessels. If the exoskeleton is breached, loss of hemolymph will kill
2071-400: Is accomplished by coating the prey with digestive juices secreted from openings in the chelicerae . The tarantula's digestive organ (stomach) is a tube that runs the length of its body. In the prosoma , this tube is wider and forms the sucking stomach. When the sucking stomach's powerful muscles contract, the stomach is increased in cross-section, creating a strong sucking action that permits
2180-401: Is advised. Because other proteins are included when a toxin is injected, some individuals may suffer severe symptoms due to an allergic reaction rather than to the venom. Such allergic effects can be life-threatening. Additionally, the large fangs of a tarantula can inflict painful puncture wounds , which can lead to secondary bacterial infections if not properly treated. Before biting,
2289-480: Is determined by measuring from the tip of the back leg to the tip of the front leg on the opposite side. Some of the largest species of tarantula may weigh over 85 g (3 oz); the largest of all, the goliath birdeater ( Theraphosa blondi ) from Venezuela and Brazil , has been reported to attain a weight of 170 g (6 oz) and a leg-span up to 30 cm (12 in), males being longer and females greater in girth. The fang size of this tarantula reaches
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#17327728010342398-493: Is exuded. As the silk is pulled out of the spinnerets, the shear forces cause proteins in the silk to crystallize, transforming it from a liquid to a solid thread. The tarantula's mouth is located under its chelicerae on the lower front part of its prosoma . The mouth is a short, straw-shaped opening that can only suck, meaning that anything taken into it must be in liquid form. Prey with large amounts of solid parts, such as mice, must be crushed and ground up or predigested, which
2507-516: Is fairly large (4- to 5-inch legspan), somewhat ″hairy″, and is highly venomous to humans. Another dangerous type of spiders that have been confused with tarantulas are the Australian funnel-web spiders . The best known species of these is the Sydney funnel-web spider ( Atrax robustus ) a spider that is aggressive, highly venomous , and (prior to the development of antivenom in the 1980s)
2616-481: Is imminent when the exoskeleton takes on a darker shade. If a tarantula previously used its urticating hairs, the bald patch turns from a peach color to deep blue. The tarantula also stops feeding and becomes more lethargic during this time. While most Tarantulas species take between two and five years to reach sexual maturity, some species can take up to 10 years. Upon reaching adulthood, males typically have an 18-month period left to live so immediately go in search of
2725-472: Is located. Taranto is known for the large population of dolphins and other cetaceans living near these islands. Another bay, called Mar Piccolo ( Little Sea ), is formed by the peninsula of the old city and has flourishing fishing . At the end of the 19th century, a channel was excavated to allow naval ships to enter the Mar Piccolo harbour, and the ancient Greek city become an island connected to
2834-408: Is often made without identifying a particular spider, although the "banana tarantula" is sometimes named. A likely candidate for the true identity of this spider is the dangerous Brazilian wandering spider ( Phoneutria fera ) of the family Ctenidae , as it is sometimes found hiding in clusters of bananas and is one of several spiders called "banana spiders". It is not technically a tarantula, but it
2943-940: Is one of the most significant late works by the architect. In 2018 it is in poor condition and defaced by graffiti. In the modern districts, but above all in the central Borgo Umbertino , there are also the Fountain of the Rosa dei Venti , Monumento al Marinaio , the War Memorial and the Navy Yard , another symbol of the city, some archeological sites such as the Cripta del Redentore , churches like Maria Santissima del Monte Carmelo , San Pasquale and San Francesco di Paola and 18th- and 19th-century palaces such as Palazzo Magnini , Palazzo delle Poste, Palazzo del Governo , Palazzo degli Uffici and Palazzo Savino D'Amelio . On
3052-527: Is taken into the blood stream through the blood vessels in the lungs. Needed moisture may also be absorbed from humid air by these organs. A tarantula's blood is unique (not only in appearance); an oxygen-transporting protein is present (the copper-based hemocyanin ), but not enclosed in blood cells such as the erythrocytes of mammals. A tarantula's blood is not true blood, but rather a liquid called hemolymph (or haemolymph). At least four types of hemocytes , or hemolymph cells, are known. The tarantula's heart
3161-746: Is virtually divided into two by the Ponte Punta Penna Pizzone , which joins the Punta Penna to the Punta Pizzone. The first of these forms a rough triangle, whose corners are the opening to the east and the Porta Napoli channel linking it to the Big Sea in the west. The second half forms an ellipse whose major axis measures almost 5 km (3 mi) from the south-west to the north-east. The Galeso river flows into
3270-482: The 2026 Mediterranean Games . Taranto's pre-history dates back to 706 BC when it was founded as a Greek colony, established by the Spartans . The ancient city was situated on a peninsula ; the modern city has been built over the ancient Greek city of which only a few ruins remain, including part of the city wall, two temple columns dating to the 6th century BC, and tombs. The Greek colonists from Sparta called
3379-699: The Gioia del Colle Painter , the Darius Painter , the Underworld Painter , and the White Sakkos Painter , among others. The wares produced by these workshops were usually large elaborate vessels intended for mortuary use. The forms produced included volute kraters , loutrophoroi , paterai , oinochoai , lekythoi , fish plates , etc. The decoration of these vessels was red figure (with figures reserved in red clay fabric, while
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3488-458: The Murgia plateau from the north-west to the east. Its territory extends for 209.64 km (80.94 sq mi) and is mostly underwater. It is characterised by three natural peninsulas and a man-made island, formed by digging a ditch during the construction of Aragon Castle . The city is known as the "city of two seas" because it is washed by the Big Sea in the bay between Punta Rondinella to
3597-520: The Norman period, it became the capital of the Principality of Taranto , which covered almost all of the heel of Apulia . Taranto is now the third-largest continental city in southern Italy (south of Rome, roughly the southern half of the Italian peninsula), with well-developed steel and iron foundries, oil refineries, chemical works, naval shipyards and food-processing factories. Taranto will host
3706-721: The Ponte Girevole . The Big Sea is separated from the Ionian Sea by the Capo San Vito, the Isole Cheradi of St Peter and St Paul, and the three islands of San Nicolicchio, which are completely incorporated by the ILVA steelworks . The latter form a little archipelago which closes off the arc creating the natural Big Sea bay. The Little Sea is considered to be a lagoon so it presents problems of water exchange. It
3815-649: The United States , Mexico , in Central America , and throughout South America . Other species occur variously throughout Africa , much of Asia (including the Ryukyu Islands in southern Japan ), and all of Australia . In Europe , some species occur in Spain , Portugal , Turkey , southern Italy , and Cyprus . Some genera of tarantulas hunt prey primarily in trees; others hunt on or near
3924-424: The chelicerae and front legs) into the pool of semen. The pedipalps absorb the semen and keep it viable until a mate can be found. When a male spider detects the presence of a female, the two exchange signals to establish that they are of the same species. These signals may also lull the female into a receptive state. If the female is receptive, then the male approaches her and inserts his pedipalps into an opening in
4033-401: The chelicerae as a pocket knife blade folds back into its handle. The chelicerae of a tarantula completely contain the venom glands and the muscles that surround them, and can cause the venom to be forcefully injected into prey. The pedipalpi are two six-segmented appendages connected to the prosoma near the mouth and protruding on either side of both chelicerae. In most species of tarantulas,
4142-645: The coati , kinkajou , and opossum in the New World , and mongooses and the honey badger in the Old World , are often immune to the venom of their arthropod prey. Humans also consume tarantulas for food in their native ranges. They are considered a delicacy in certain cultures (e.g. Venezuela and Cambodia). They can be roasted over an open fire to remove the bristles (described further below) and then eaten. Tarantulas have evolved specialized bristles, or setae , to defend themselves against predators. Besides
4251-493: The coral reef . Taranto has a number of sites of historic value. Situated at the angle of the canal, Big Sea and Piazza Castello , the Aragon Castle was built between 1486 and 1492 by orders of King Ferdinand II of Aragon to protect the city from the Turks ' frequent raids. The castle, which was designed by Italian painter and architect Francesco di Giorgio Martini , replaced a pre-existing 9th-century Byzantine fortress, which
4360-411: The exotic pet trade. Many New World species kept as pets have setae known as urticating hairs that can cause irritation to the skin, and in extreme cases, cause damage to the eyes. Like all arthropods , the tarantula is an invertebrate that relies on an exoskeleton for muscular support. Like other Arachnida , a tarantula's body comprises two main parts, the prosoma (or cephalothorax) and
4469-436: The mygalomorph spiders known to him, rather than "Mygalidae" (as used, for example, by John Blackwall ). Thorell later split the family into a number of genera, including Theraphosa . A 2019 phylogenomic study recognized 12 subfamilies, one (Ischnocolinae) known not to be monophyletic . The relationship between the subfamilies found in the study is shown in the following cladogram . The dual placing of Ischnocolinae
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4578-440: The opisthosoma (or abdomen). The prosoma and opisthosoma are connected by the pedicel , or pregenital somite . This waist-like connecting piece is actually part of the prosoma and gives the opisthosoma a wide range of motion relative to the prosoma. Depending on the species, the body length of tarantulas ranges from about 5 to 11 cm (2 to 4 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) with leg spans of 8–30 cm (3–12 in). Leg span
4687-489: The pampas , rainforest , desert , scrubland , mountains , and cloud forest . They are generally classed among the terrestrial types. They are burrowers that live in the ground. Tarantulas are becoming increasingly popular as pets and some species are readily available in captivity. Tarantulas can be confused with other members of the order Mygalomorphae , such as trapdoor spiders , funnel-web spiders and purseweb spiders . They can also be confused with some members of
4796-564: The 6th century BC - such as the remains of a temple dedicated to Poseidon, with its two surviving Doric columns still visible on Piazza Castello in the Città Vecchia . The Promenade ( lungomare ), named after former Italian king Victor Emmanuel III , overlooks the Mar Grande , the natural harbour and commercial port. The Concattedrale Gran Madre di Dio , designed by Gio Ponti , was built in 1967–1971 in reinforced concrete and
4905-680: The ILVA steel plant, part of Gruppo Riva . 7% of Taranto's pollution is produced by the public; 93% is produced by factories. In 2005, the European Pollutant Emission Register estimated dioxin emissions from the Taranto ILVA plant were responsible for 83% of Italy's total reported emissions. Every year the city is exposed to 2.7 t (2.7 long tons; 3.0 short tons) of carbon monoxide and 57.7 t (56.8 long tons; 63.6 short tons) of carbon dioxide . In 2014,
5014-666: The Italian National Institute of Emissions and their Sources, stated that Taranto stands third in the world behind China's Linfen , and Copşa Mică in Romania, the most polluted cities in the world due to factories' emissions. In particular, the city produces ninety-two percent of Italy's dioxin . This is 8.8 percent of the dioxin in Europe. Between 1995 and 2004, leukaemias , myelomas and lymphomas increased by 30 to 40 percent. Dioxin accumulates over
5123-556: The San Agostino church, located near Pendio La Riccia, the buried remains of an ancient Greek temple were discovered. Beginning in 1934 Benito Mussolini embarked on a project of rejuvenation that involved the demolition of the working class Turipenne pittaggio along the Via Garibaldi and ''Discesa Vasto'' which contained the homes of local fishermen as well as the old Jewish quarter. The demolitions, which also razed
5232-624: The Spartans to increase the prospective number of soldiers (only the citizens of Sparta could become soldiers) during the bloody Messenian Wars , but later they were retroactively nullified, and the sons were then obliged to leave Greece forever. Phalanthus, the Parthenian leader, went to Delphi to consult the oracle : the puzzling answer designated the harbour of Taranto as the new home of the exiles. The Partheniae arrived in Apulia, and founded
5341-535: The Theraphosidae, even though they are not closely related to wolf spiders at all, being in a different infraorder . The name tarantula is also incorrectly applied to other large-bodied spiders, including the purseweb spiders or atypical tarantulas , the funnel-webs ( Dipluridae and Hexathelidae ), and the dwarf tarantulas . These spiders are related to tarantulas (all being mygalomorphs ) but fall into different families from them. Huntsman spiders of
5450-439: The abdomen against the target, like the genus Avicularia . These fine bristles are barbed and serve to irritate. They can be lethal to small animals such as rodents. Some people are sensitive to these bristles, and develop serious itching and rashes at the site. Exposure of the eyes and respiratory system to urticating hairs should be strictly avoided. Species with urticating hairs can kick these bristles off; they are flicked into
5559-494: The air at a target using their back pairs of legs. Tarantulas also use these bristles for other purposes, such as to mark territory or to line their shelters (the latter such practice may discourage flies from feeding on the spiderlings). Urticating hairs do not grow back, but are replaced with each molt . The intensity, number, and flotation of the bristles depends on the species of tarantula. To predators and other enemies, these bristles can range from being lethal to simply being
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#17327728010345668-844: The artisans and fishermen dwelled in Ponte and Turipenne. An Armenian community was present in the 10th and 11th centuries having arrived in Taranto as troops in the Byzantine Army. The San't Andrea degli Armeni church in Piazza Monteoliveto, located in the Baglio quarter, stands as testimony to the neighbourhood where the Armenians made their homes. In 1746 the entire population of Taranto resided in Old City. This resulted in
5777-474: The background was covered in a black gloss), with overpainting ( sovradipinto ) in white, pink, yellow, and maroon slips. Often the style of the drawings is florid and frilly, as was already the fashion in 4th-century Athens. Distinctive South Italian features also begin to appear. Many figures are shown seated on rocks. Floral motifs become very ornate, including spiraling vines and leaves, roses , lilies , poppies , sprays of laurel , acanthus leaves . Often
5886-609: The battle fleet of the Regia Marina at anchor in the harbour of Taranto, using aerial torpedoes despite the shallowness of the water. The Taranto Prize, defined as the "Biennial of the South", was a biennial cultural event that took place between 1947 and 1951. It was born on the initiative of thirty-year-old veterans who, returning from the Second World War , gathered in the «Cultural Club (Circolo della cultura)» and
5995-485: The case of a mature male. The sixth pair of appendages is the chelicerae and their attached fangs. When walking, a tarantula's first and third legs on one side move at the same time as the second and fourth legs on the other side of its body. The muscles in a tarantula's legs cause the legs to bend at the joints, but to extend a leg, the tarantula increases the pressure of haemolymph entering the leg. Tarantulas, like almost all other spiders, have their primary spinnerets at
6104-456: The centre of Mediterranean trade, by connecting the Via Appia directly to the port of Brundisium ( Brindisi ). Like many Greek city states, Taras issued its own coins in the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The denomination was a Nomos, a die-cast silver coin whose weight, size and purity were controlled by the state. The highly artistic coins presented the symbol of the city, Taras being saved by
6213-558: The chelicerae. Stridulation seems to be more common in Old World species. All tarantulas are venomous. Although their venom is not deadly to humans, some bites cause serious discomfort that might persist for several days. In general, the effects of the bites of all kinds of tarantula are not well known. While the bites of many species are known to be no worse than a wasp sting, accounts of bites by some species are reported to be very painful and to produce intense spasms that may recur over
6322-510: The city Taras ( Τάρᾱς , gen. Τάραντος Tárantos ) after the mythical hero Taras , while the Romans , who connected the city to Rome with an extension of the Appian Way , called it Tarentum . The islets of S. Pietro and S. Paolo (St. Peter and St. Paul), collectively known as Cheradi Islands , protect the bay, called Mar Grande ( Big Sea ), where the commercial port
6431-492: The city, naming it Taras after the son of the Greek sea god, Poseidon , and of a local nymph , Satyrion. According to other sources, Heracles founded the city. Another tradition indicates Taras as the founder of the city; the symbol of the Greek city (as well as of the modern city) depicts the legend of Taras being saved from a shipwreck by riding a dolphin that was sent to him by Poseidon. Taranto increased its power, becoming
6540-544: The clergy. These include Palazzo Calò, Palazzo Carducci-Artenisio (1650), Palazzo Galeota (1728), Palazzo Gallo (17th century), P PMalazzo Latagliata, Palazzo Lo Jucco (1793), Palazzo D'Aquino, Palazzo Delli Ponti, Palazzo Gennarini, Palazzo d'Ayala, Palazzo Visconti, Palazzo Galizia, Palazzo Ciura and Palazzo Pantaleo. The 17th century de Beaumont-Bonelli-Bellacicco palace houses the Spartan Museum of Taranto - Hypogeum Bellacicco which extends below street and sea level to
6649-521: The competition was the sea. The Municipality of Taranto was declared bankrupt effective 31 December 2005, having accrued liabilities of €357 million. This was one of the biggest financial crises which has ever hit a municipality. The bankruptcy declaration was made on 18 October 2006 by the receiver Tommaso Blonda. He was appointed following the resignation of the mayor, Rossana Di Bello, on account of her sixteen-month prison sentence for abuse of office and forgery of documents relating to investigations into
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#17327728010346758-645: The contract for the management of the city incinerator, awarded to Termomeccanica. Taranto railway station connects the city with Rome , Naples , Milan , Bologna , Bari , Reggio di Calabria and Brindisi . Taranto-Grottaglie Airport is located 16 km away from Taranto, but does not offer any regularly scheduled commercial services. The two closest airports that do offer regularly scheduled commercial services are in Brindisi and Bari , approximately 70 km and 90 km away, respectively. The Ponte Girevole ( swing bridge ), built in 1887, runs across
6867-439: The element pelma appears to have become synonymous with 'theraphosid'. For example, the author of Cardiopelma writes, " Cardiopelma fait réference aux genitalia de la femelle qui évoquent la forme d'un Coeur " ('Cardiopelma refers to the female genitalia that evoke the shape of a heart'), with no reference to either 'footsole' or 'scopula'. Names interpreted in this way include: Tarantulas of various species occur throughout
6976-444: The end of the opisthosoma. Unlike most spider species in the infraorder Araneomorphae , which includes the majority of extant spider species, and most of which have six, tarantula species have two or four spinnerets. Spinnerets are flexible, tube-like structures from which the spider exudes its silk. The tip of each spinneret is called the spinning field. Each spinning field is covered by as many as 100 spinning tubes through which silk
7085-473: The family Sparassidae have also been termed tarantulas because of their large size, when, in fact, they are not related. Instead, huntsman spiders belong to the infraorder Araneomorphae . Many theraphosid genera have names, either accepted or synonymous , containing the element pelma . This can be traced back to Carl Ludwig Koch in 1850, who in describing his new genus Eurypelma wrote, " Die Sammetbürste der Fussohlen sehr breit " ( lit. '
7194-408: The females stay very close to the egg sacs and become more aggressive. Within most species, the females turn the egg sac often, which is called brooding. This keeps the eggs from deforming due to sitting in one position too long. The young spiderlings remain in the nest for some time after hatching, where they live off the remains of their yolk sacs before dispersing. Linnaeus placed all spiders in
7303-488: The first half. The two water bodies have slightly different winds and tides and their underwater springs have different salinities. These affect the currents on the surface and in the depths of the Big Sea and the two halves of the Little Sea. In the Big Sea and in the northern part of the Little Sea, there are some underwater springs called citri , which carry undrinkable freshwater together with salt water. This creates
7412-473: The first pair is located in a cavity inside the lower front part of the abdomen near where the abdomen connects to the cephalothorax , and the second pair is slightly farther back on the abdomen. Air enters the cavity through a tiny slit on each side of and near the front of the abdomen. Each lung consists of 15 or more thin sheets of folded tissue arranged like the pages of a book. These sheets of tissue are supplied by blood vessels. As air enters each lung, oxygen
7521-474: The foot', paralleling Koch's use of Fußsohle (in modern spelling). Thus Eurypelma literally means 'wide footsole'; however, arachnologists have conventionally taken pelma in such names to refer to the scopula, so producing the meaning 'with a wide scopula'. Other genus names or synonyms that Estrada-Alvarez and Cameron regard as having 'footsole' or 'scopula' meanings include: Later, particularly following genus names published by R.I. Pocock in 1901,
7630-400: The genus Pepsis , track, attack, and kill large tarantulas. They use olfaction to find the lair of a tarantula. The wasp must deliver a sting to the underside of the spider's cephalothorax, exploiting the thin membrane between the basal leg segments. This paralyzes the spider, and the wasp then drags it back into its burrow before depositing an egg on the prey's abdomen. The wasp then seals
7739-700: The ground. All tarantulas can produce silk ; while arboreal species typically reside in a silken "tube tent", terrestrial species line their burrows with silk to stabilize the burrow wall and facilitate climbing up and down. Tarantulas mainly eat large insects and other arthropods such as centipedes , millipedes , and other spiders , using ambush as their primary method of prey capture. Armed with their massive, powerful chelicerae tipped with long, chitinous fangs, tarantulas are well-adapted to killing other large arthropods . The biggest tarantulas sometimes kill and consume small vertebrates such as lizards , mice , bats , birds , and small snakes . The eight legs,
7848-620: The hypogeum that is a crossroads with other hypogeum of Old City which together form the system of subterranean Taranto. Churches include the San Cataldo Cathedral (10th century) in Piazza Duomo, San Domenico Maggiore (1302), Sant'Andrea degli Armeni (16th century), Sant'Agostino (1402), San Michele (1763), Sant'Anna , the Madonna della Salute sanctuary (1752), and San Giuseppe (16th century). Close to
7957-552: The ideal biological conditions for cultivating Mediterranean mussels , known locally as cozze . The climate of the city, recorded by the weather station situated near the Grottaglie Military Airport , is a hot-summer Mediterranean climate , typical of the Mediterranean with frequent continental features. The spring is usually mild and rainy, but it is not uncommon to have sudden cold spells from
8066-598: The intruder with their raised front legs. If that response fails to deter the attacker, the tarantulas of the Americas may next turn away and flick urticating hairs toward the pursuing predator. The next response may be to leave the scene entirely, but especially if no line of retreat is available, their final response may also be to whirl suddenly and bite. Some tarantulas are well known to give "dry bites", i.e., they may defensively bite some animal that intrudes on their space and threatens them, but they do not pump venom into
8175-425: The lower surface of her abdomen, the opisthosoma . After the semen has been transferred to the receptive female's body, the male swiftly leaves the scene before the female recovers her appetite. Although females may show some aggression after mating, the male rarely becomes a meal. Females deposit 50 to 2,000 eggs, depending on the species, in a silken egg sac and guard it for six to eight weeks. During this time,
8284-466: The mainland by bridges. The islets and the coast are strongly fortified and Mar Piccolo is a naval port with strategic importance. Because of the presence of these two bays, Taranto is also called "the city of the two seas". The natural harbor at Taranto made it a logical home port for the Italian naval fleet before and during the First World War . During World War II, Taranto became famous for
8393-405: The most decisive ways to tell is by looking at their fangs. Tarantula fangs face downwards, as opposed to those of true spiders , which face each other, allowing them to make pincerlike motions. They also own two book lungs , as opposed to true spiders which only have one. Their lifespan is also longer than most spiders. The spider originally bearing the name tarantula was Lycosa tarantula ,
8502-638: The movements of its prey. A tarantula's setae are very sensitive organs and are used to sense chemical signatures, vibrations, wind direction, and possibly even sound. Tarantulas are also very responsive to the presence of certain chemicals such as pheromones . The eyes are located above the chelicerae on the forward part of the prosoma. They are small and usually set in two rows of four. Most tarantulas are not able to see much more than light, darkness, and motion. Arboreal tarantulas generally have better vision compared with terrestrial tarantulas. All types of tarantulas have two sets of book lungs (breathing organs);
8611-802: The mucous membranes of the nose. Some species have more effective urticating bristles than others. The goliath birdeater is known for its particularly irritating urticating bristles . They can penetrate the cornea , so eye protection should be worn when handling such tarantulas. Old World tarantulas have no urticating bristles and are more likely to attack when disturbed. They often have more potent, medically significant venom , and are faster and much more nervous and defensive than New World species. Some dangerous spider species are related to tarantulas and are frequently confused with them. A popular urban legend maintains that deadly varieties of tarantula exist somewhere in South America . This claim
8720-596: The names of the artists have survived, so modern scholars have been obliged to give the recognizable artistic hands and workshops nicknames based on the subject matter of their works, museums which possess the works, or individuals who have distinguished the works from others. Some of the most famous of the Apulian vase painters at Taras are now called: the Iliupersis Painter , the Lycurgus Painter ,
8829-462: The navigable ship canal that joins Mar Piccolo ( Little Sea ) with Mar Grande ( Big Sea ) and stretches along 89.9 m (295 ft). When the bridge is open, the two ends of the city are disconnected. In 1991 Taranto was declared a high environmental risk area by the Ministry of Environment . As a consequence of the pollutants discharged into the air by the factories in the area, most notably
8938-423: The necessity of building additional stories on the narrow houses. It is still inhabited with a number of people living in juxtaposition to the old palazzi. By 2013 the population of the Old City was just 1000 at a time when the wider city had more than 200,000 inhabitants. There are a number of 17th and 18th-century palazzi in Old City. For years, they served as the main residence of local aristocratic families and
9047-411: The newspaper 'Voce del Popolo'. The coordinator, Antonio Rizzo, was a physicist who graduated with Enrico Fermi. He intended to promote a new cultural impulse of a pacifist nature for the city. The event was structured into two sections: literature and painting. Several artists of international calibre, such as Pier Paolo Pasolini , Carlo Emilio Gadda , and Giorgio de Chirico , participated. The theme of
9156-496: The night of 11–12 November 1940 during the Second World War between British naval forces, under Admiral Andrew Cunningham , and Italian naval forces, under Admiral Inigo Campioni . The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history, employing 21 Fairey Swordfish biplane torpedo bombers from the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious in the Mediterranean Sea . The attack struck
9265-402: The normal bristles covering the body, some tarantulas also have a dense covering of irritating bristles called urticating hairs , on the opisthosoma , that they sometimes use as protection against enemies. These bristles are present on most New World species, but not on any specimens from the Old World. Urticating hairs are usually kicked off the abdomen by the tarantula, but some may simply rub
9374-473: The north and east, which often cause snowfall. Average annual precipitation is fairly low (even for southern Italy), measuring just 425 mm (16.7 in) per year. The summer is hot and humid, with temperatures averaging 29 °C (84 °F). On 28 November 2012 a large F3 tornado hit the port of Taranto and damaged the Taranto Steel Mill ; about 20 workers were injured, and another man
9483-507: The northwest and Capo San Dante to the south, and by the vast reservoir of the Little Sea. The Big Sea is frequently known as the Big Sea bay as that is where ships harbour. It is separated from the Little Sea by a cape which closes the gulf, leading to the artificial island. This island formed the heart of the original city and it is connected to the mainland by the Ponte di Porta Napoli and
9592-661: The old medieval wall and three churches out of the four within the area, continued until the outbreak of World War II. Modern edifices and apartment blocks were erected to replace the demolished structures. Tarantino dialect Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.133 via cp1102 cp1102, Varnish XID 542569763 Upstream caches: cp1102 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 05:46:41 GMT Theraphosidae Tarantulas comprise
9701-407: The open and are more likely to be caught. Like other spiders, tarantulas have to shed their exoskeleton periodically as they grow, a process called molting . A young tarantula may do this several times a year as a part of the maturation process, while full-grown specimens only molt once a year or less, or sooner, to replace lost limbs or lost urticating hairs . It is visibly apparent that molting
9810-685: The order Araneomorphae such as the Lycosidae family. There are multiple ways to identify a tarantula. First the hairs: in the Americas most tarantulas have urticating hairs , though some, such as the Hemirrhagus genus, lack these. The hairs are usually more noticeable than with most other spiders . Another is the size, as tarantulas tend to be bigger, but this is again not a failproof way. They also do not use their webs for hunting, instead using them as building material or tripwire. One of
9919-732: The outskirts and in the countryside there are several traditional ancient country houses called masseria , like Masseria Capitignano . The Old City or Città Vecchia is where the Greeks built their acropolis. Today it retains the same street layout of 967, when the Byzantines under Nicephorus Phocas rebuilt what the Saracen troops led by the Slavic Sabir had razed to the ground in 927 AD. There are four main arteries (Corso Vittorio II, Via Duomo, Via di Mezzo and Via Garibaldi) which run in
10028-413: The pedipalpi contain sharp, jagged plates used to cut and crush food often called the coxae or maxillae . As with other spiders, the terminal portions of the pedipalpi of males function as part of their reproductive system. Male spiders spin a silken platform (sperm web) on the ground onto which they release semen from glands in their opisthosoma . Then they insert their pedipalps into the semen, absorb
10137-445: The prosoma out are: coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, tarsus and pretarsus, and claw. Two or three retractable claws at the end of each leg are used to grip surfaces for climbing. Also on the end of each leg, surrounding the claws, is a group of bristles, called the scopula, which help the tarantula to grip better when climbing surfaces such as glass. The fifth pair is the pedipalps, which aid in feeling, gripping prey, and mating in
10246-400: The same corner. A tarantula's central nervous system (brain) is located in the bottom of the inner prosoma . A tarantula perceives its surroundings primarily via sensory organs called setae (bristles or spines, sometimes referred to as hairs). Although a tarantula has eight eyes like most spiders , touch is its keenest sense, and in hunting, it primarily depends on vibrations given off by
10355-556: The semen into the pedipalps, and later insert the pedipalps (one at a time) into the reproductive organ of the female, which is located in her abdomen. The terminal segments of the pedipalps of male tarantulas are moderately larger in circumference than those of a female tarantula. Male tarantulas have special spinnerets surrounding the genital opening. Silk for the sperm web of the tarantula is exuded from these special spinnerets. A tarantula has four pairs of legs and two additional pairs of appendages. Each leg has seven segments, which from
10464-464: The size of the two goliath spiders. Most species of North American tarantulas are brown. Elsewhere, species have been found that variously display cobalt blue ( Cyriopagopus lividus ), black with white stripes ( Aphonopelma seemanni ), yellow leg markings ( Eupalaestrus campestratus ), metallic blue legs with vibrant orange abdomen and green prosoma ( Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens ). Their natural habitats include savanna , grassland such as in
10573-472: The south and the Ponte di Porta Napoli from the north. Almost rectangular in shape, it is divided into four pittaggi (quarters) that are delineated by the cross formed between Via di Mezzo and postilier Via Nuova. These are "Baglio" and "San Pietro" in the upper section which face the Big Sea; and "Turipenne" and "Ponte" in the lower part fronting the Little Sea. The nobility, clergy and military personnel made their homes in Baglio and San Pietro, whilst
10682-572: The species Haplopelma lividum . Mature male tarantulas also may have tibial hooks on their front legs, which are used to restrain the female's fangs during copulation. Males typically have longer legs than the females. A juvenile male's sex can be determined by looking at a cast exuvia for epiandrous fusillae or spermathecae . Females possess spermathecae , except for the species Sickius longibulbi and Encyocratella olivacea . Males have much shorter lifespans than females because they die relatively soon after maturing. Few live long enough for
10791-562: The spider in its burrow and flies off to search for more hosts. The wasp egg hatches into a larva and feeds on the spider's inessential parts, and as it approaches pupation, it consumes the remainder. Other arthropods, such as large scorpions and giant centipedes , are also known to prey on tarantulas. Tarantulas are also preyed upon by a wide variety of vertebrates. Many of these, including lizards, frogs, birds, snakes and mammals, are generalist predators of all kinds of large arthropods. Mammals that have been known to prey on tarantulas, such as
10900-428: The spider unless the wound is small enough that the hemolymph can dry and close it. Despite their large size and fearsome appearance and reputation, tarantulas themselves are prey for many other animals. The most specialized of these predators are large members of the wasp family Pompilidae such as the wasp Hemipepsis ustulata . These wasps are called " tarantula hawks ". The largest tarantula hawks, such as those in
11009-440: The subject matter consists of naiskos scenes (scenes showing the statue of a deceased person in a naos, a miniature temple or shrine). Most often the naiskos scene occupies one side of the vase, while a mythological scene occupies the other. Images depicting many of the Greek myths are only known from South Italian vases, since Athenian ones seem to have had more limited repertoires of depiction. The Battle of Taranto took place on
11118-430: The tarantula to suck its liquefied prey up through the mouth and into the intestines. Once the liquefied food enters the intestines, it is broken down into particles small enough to pass through the intestine walls into the hemolymph (blood stream), where it is distributed throughout the body. After feeding, the leftovers are formed into a small ball by the tarantula and thrown away. In a terrarium, they often put them into
11227-559: The two chelicerae with their fangs, and the pedipalps are attached to the prosoma . The chelicerae are two double-segmented appendages located just below the eyes and directly forward of the mouth. The chelicerae contain the venom glands that vent through the fangs. The fangs are hollow extensions of the chelicerae that inject venom into prey or animals that the tarantula bites in defense, and they are also used to masticate . These fangs are articulated so that they can extend downward and outward in preparation to bite or can fold back toward
11336-520: The velvet-brush of the footsole very wide ' ). German arachnologists use the word Fuß to refer to the tarsus (the last article of a spider's leg). Translations of Sammetbürste into Latin use the word scopula . Hence in English arachnological terminology, Koch meant 'the scopula of the base of the tarsus very wide'. Eury- is derived from the Greek eurýs ( εὐρύϛ ), meaning 'wide', while pélma ( πέλμα ) means 'the sole of
11445-492: The wound. New-world tarantulas—those indigenous to the Americas—have bites that generally pose little threat to humans (other than causing localized pain). Most of them are equipped with urticating hairs on their abdomens, and almost always throw these barbed bristles as the first line of defense. These bristles irritate sensitive areas of the body and especially seem to target curious animals that may sniff these bristles into
11554-592: The years. Over 9 kilos of dioxin have been discharged into the city's air by its factories. Grazing is banned within 20 km (12 mi) of the ILVA plant. In 2013, the ILVA plant was placed under special administration when its owner, the Riva family, was accused of failing to prevent toxic emissions, which caused at least 400 premature deaths. Emissions of both carbon monoxide , carbon dioxide and dioxin have decreased. Animal species have returned that had left, including swallows , cranes , dolphins , seahorses and
11663-496: Was deemed unfit for 15th-century warfare. In 1707 it ceased to be used as a military fortress and was converted to a prison until under Napoleon Bonaparte it reverted to its original military function. To date it is the property of the Italian Navy and is open to the public. Twenty-first-century excavations revealed the castle's earlier Byzantine foundations which can be viewed. There are several Greek temple ruins - some from
11772-409: Was reported missing. It is classified as Geographical zone C and having a degree-day of 30. Taranto was founded in 706 BC by Dorian Greek immigrants hailing from Sparta . Its origin is peculiar: the founders were Partheniae ("sons of virgins"), sons of unmarried Spartan women and Perioeci (free men, but not citizens of Sparta); these out-of-wedlock unions were permitted extraordinarily by
11881-676: Was responsible for numerous deaths in Australia . These spiders are members of the same infraorder as tarantulas, Mygalomorphae . Some Australians use the slang term "triantelope" (a corruption of the incorrect term tarantula, which is also used) for large, ″hairy″, and harmless members of the huntsman spider family, which are often found on interior household walls and in automobiles. Some tarantula species exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism . Males tend to be smaller (especially their abdomens, which can appear quite narrow) and may be dull in color when compared to their female counterparts, as in
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