Hairy tarantulas

the long version

How does the hair on a tarantula protect it from getting eaten? When an enemy is near, a tarantula rubs its body with one of its back legs. The rubbing shoots off lots of tiny, hairy daggers. These stinging hairs make the enemy run away—and let the tarantula escape to safety. These are just some of the surprising facts that young readers will discover as they explore the unusual world of these hairy spiders. Large, eye-popping photographs and fascinating, grade-appropriate text engage emergent and early readers as they learn about the natural habitat, diet, physical characteristics, and behavior of this unique invertebrate.