Invertebrates

Who are you calling spineless?

Invertebrates, animals with no internal spine, are different than all other animals because they have their skeleton on the outside! This exoskeleton makes them hard on the outside and means they can only grow bigger if they shed their old exoskeleton and grow a new one that's bigger. Some will fascinate you while others will make your skin crawl. Meet Animal Wonders' invertebrate residents.

Legs

Mexican Red Knee Tarantula (Brachypelma smithi). Tarantulas are a group of spiders that are usually very large and hairy. Mexican Red Knee Tarantulas live on the Pacific coast of Mexico in scrubland and dry forests. They often burrow under rocks or amongst tree roots and lie in wait for for their prey. These tarantulas eat mostly insects but occasionally will eat a small mammal or lizard. Mexican Red Knee Tarantulas have a very neat defense against predators. When the predator gets too close the spider will turn his butt to them and use it's back legs to kick small hairs off it's abdomen. The hairs stick into the predator's sensitive nose and eyes. The tarantula makes his getaway while the predator is rubbing his itching eyes. Tarantulas don't regrow their kicked off hairs. They have to wait until they shed, or molt, their old exoskeleton to get their new hairs.

Angel

Curlyhair Tarantula (Brachypelma albopilosum). Tarantulas are a group of spiders that are usually very large and hairy. Mexican Curlyhair Tarantulas are native to the tropical forests of Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica. They often burrow in damp soil and wait for small insects or mammals to wander past. Curlyhair Tarantulas are very docile and easy to handle. If they do bite, the venom hardly affects most humans. They have a very cool defense against predators though. When the predator gets too close the spider will turn his butt to them and use it's back legs to kick small hairs off it's abdomen. The hairs stick into the predator's sensitive nose and eyes. The tarantula makes his getaway while the predator is rubbing his itching eyes. Tarantulas don't regrow their kicked off hairs. They have to wait until they shed, or molt, their old exoskeleton to get their new hairs.

Professor Claw

Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator). These scorpions live in the forests of Africa and are one of the largest in the world. They can get up to 8 inches long! They are nearly all black which helps them blend in with old decaying leaves on the forest floor. They eat mostly grubs and insects like termites and crickets. Their claws are impressively large and some have said they can break a pencil in half!
Emperor scorpions are one of the least venomous scorpions. The way to tell if a scorpion is really poisonous is to take a look at his claws. If they're big and scary looking, it's probably less toxic. If the claws are little then it probably has a lot of venom in it's stinger.

Vinny

Giant Vinegaroon (Mastigoproctus giganteus). A lesser known arachnid, these 8 legged arthropods resemble a scorpion but lack the venomous stinger on the end of their abdomen. Instead, as their namesake suggests, they spray a form of vinegar-like acid to deter potential predators from messing with them. Vinegaroons are also predators and use their small but powerful pincers to grab and subdue any prey items, like crickets and beetles, that wander too close.

Millie

Giant African Millipede (Archispirostreptus gigas). As their name suggests, Giant African Millipedes are the largest species of millipede and can grow to 12 inches in length. These millipedes can be found in the rainforests of western Africa. Since they are detritivores, they are usually found on the ground munching on dead plants and rotting logs. Millipedes are often confused with centipedes but there are a few key differences. Centipedes are flat and only have 2 legs per segment. They also tend to move very quickly as they hunt for and catch insects with their venomous sting. Millipedes on the other hand are rounded, have 4 legs per segment, and move slowly and steadily. Although they are mostly gentle giants, if a predator tries to grab them, Giant African millipedes will roll into a ball and secrete a fluid that smells and tastes terrible. Hopefully causing the predator to think twice before picking one up again.

Suede

Blue Death Feigning Beetle (Asbolus verrucosus). These beetles live in the Southwestern United States and can be found scurrying across deserts. Their blue color is a powdery wax that covers their body and helps them retain moisture in an extreme environment. They eat plants, fruit, dead insects, and other organic matter. As their name suggests, if a predator comes near, they play dead! They fall onto their back, spread their legs, and freeze. Spiders are one of their main predators, but spiders prefer to hunt live prey. So when they see the "dead" beetle, the spider will continue on its way. Eventually the beetle will roll back over and move along as well.

Rick & Sue

Madagascar Hissing Cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa). These cockroaches can grow up to 3 inches long! Fortunately they don't have wings like other cockroach species. They live on the island of Madagascar and are found on the forest floors. They are the garbage men of the forest, eating anything that is organic. They clean up after those rowdy lemurs that run around the tree tops. If there were no cockroaches, Madagascar would be covered in rotting fruit and animal feces. Thankfully these cockroaches take their job very seriously and keep the island clean.
They are called "hissing" cockroaches because if they feel threatened they push air through tiny holes on the sides of their body, called spiracles. The force of air through the holes makes the hissing sound.