Tarantulas are usually found hidden on top of trees and plants or in cracks in the walls or tight crevices. This behavior has made many people believe that they really like the light and are actually nocturnal creatures that prefer the darkness. However, is this true, or are most people just wrong? In this post, we delve into whether tarantulas are genuinely nocturnal, shedding light on their habits and adaptations to the darkness.
What Are Nocturnal Animals?
Nocturnal pertains to actions, events, or behaviours that take place during the nighttime hours. Animals can generally fall into one of three categories based on their waking hours: nocturnal, crepuscular, or diurnal. Nocturnal creatures are predominantly active at night; crepuscular animals come alive in the early morning and late evening, while diurnal animals are most active during the daytime.
Nocturnal animals possess highly refined sensory abilities and physical adaptations that equip them for activities that are typically challenging in darkness, such as hunting. These creatures have evolved to thrive in the dimly lit conditions of their habitats, often boasting specialized features to aid in sight and navigation in the absence of daylight, such as improved night vision or sensitive whiskers. Notable examples of nocturnal animals include hedgehogs, bats, moths, raccoons, foxes, and skunks. It is worth noting that certain species of nocturnal animals may also exhibit daytime activity when necessary, particularly when seeking food or water.
Are Tarantulas Nocturnal?
Though tarantulas are not exclusively nocturnal, they are usually out at night and can often be found in their burrows or hidden beneath rocks or logs during the day. This daytime seclusion is primarily a response to the intense sunlight, not outrightly because it’s the daytime. The intense sunlight during the day can be harmful to their sensitive exoskeletons, so it’s best they hide out. Tarantulas are ectothermic, meaning they rely on their environment to regulate their body temperature, so staying cool during the day is crucial so they don’t get hurt. As such, we can invariably regard tarantulas as crepuscular and nocturnal creatures, since they are most active during the twilight hours and throughout the night.
Coming out at night also allows tarantulas to avoid predators that want to kill and eat them. They also don’t need the light to hunt for food since they use their keen sense of touch and specialized hairs on their legs to detect vibrations and movements in their surroundings.
While tarantulas have poor eyesight, they have adapted to navigate and hunt effectively in the dark. Some species even possess a unique type of vision, which helps them detect ambient light levels and differentiate between light and dark areas.
Conclusion
While tarantulas are not exclusively nocturnal, their preference for hiding during the day primarily responds to intense sunlight, which can harm their sensitive exoskeletons due to their ectothermic nature. Thus, tarantulas can be considered both crepuscular and nocturnal, as they are most active during the twilight hours and throughout the night. This behavior allows them to evade daytime predators and utilize their keen sense of touch, urticating hairs, and even unique forms of “night vision” to effectively navigate, hunt, and catch prey in the darkness.
