Spiders - why do they have such long legs..?

Not exactly a design success.......

Good point...   so..  why do you think they evolved with such long legs relative to their body size..?   

so they can spread their body weight over a larger area on their webs and not damage the web (species that don't build webs have shorter legs!) or maybe so they can scare people more??

If I was a spider and had to spend my time walking around through prickly bushes etc I'd be glad of long legs to avoid sctatching my bollocks off

Different species have different leg/body-size ratios.

The ones I get in my flat are these:

Eeek!

This thread does NOT need pictures!

Rafiki wrote (see)

so they can spread their body weight over a larger area on their webs and not damage the web 

Sounds reasonable.

I'm not particularly freaked out by these little fellas, but the wolf spider gets me a bit icky.  The only spider to carry their babies around on their back.  I'll spare those of a delicate disposition any photos, hence the link. 

That's actually quite cute!  Looks like some sort of tea cosy.

I always have to rescue my husband from spiders

Spiders move their legs using hydraulics, so it might be something to do with that.

PhilPub wrote (see)

Rafiki wrote (see)

so they can spread their body weight over a larger area on their webs and not damage the web 

Sounds reasonable.

I'm not particularly freaked out by these little fellas, but the wolf spider gets me a bit icky.  The only spider to carry their babies around on their back.  I'll spare those of a delicate disposition any photos, hence the link. 

 That looks like some sort of nightmarish spider-wig. 

I had to remove 2, yes 2 spiders from my car on the way to work this morning.  The first was like in Wilkies pic, he was walking across the sun visor, then there was a little one hanging from the ceiling who I thought might as well go as well. 

EDIT: Wow, that picture is amazing!!

 you mean you murdered a whole family!!!

Opened the link about 5 minutes ago... the screams are only just dying down now 

Rafiki wrote (see)

 you mean you murdered a whole family!!!

I did not!  I put them out in the wonderful Welsh countryside .. together.  The big one's probably eating the little one right now...

sarah the bookworm wrote (see)

PhilPub wrote (see)

Rafiki wrote (see)

so they can spread their body weight over a larger area on their webs and not damage the web 

Sounds reasonable.

I'm not particularly freaked out by these little fellas, but the wolf spider gets me a bit icky.  The only spider to carry their babies around on their back.  I'll spare those of a delicate disposition any photos, hence the link. 

 That looks like some sort of nightmarish spider-wig. 

 Note to self show and tell next time one it walking around the house.

One of my daughters had a tarantula (oh and lizards etc.) so not really frightened of the things having held one many times.  One Halloween, when she was a teenager, she answered the door to some children with the spider just holding on the front of her jumper, I can still hear the screams

To feed them, and the lizards, means putting your hand in a jar and grabbing a handful of live cockroaches to throw in with them, fun in itself if you don't like creepy crawlies.  In the summer we used to go out catching grasshoppers for a treat (for them not for us)

*tries not to vomit* 

Juliefrazz wrote (see)

Eeek!

This thread does NOT need pictures!

 

Agreed.... although I looked at PhilPubs picture and wonder if i'll be able to sleep tonight :/