Turns Out, Spiders Have Tiny Paws, And It May Change The Way You Look At Them

Aren't spiders just adorable? Well okay, in most cases they're bloody terrifying, but that image might change when you take a closer look. As close as to where their feet should be, where you'll find that spiders have paws!

In more scientific terms, a spider's paw is called a tarsus, and it's only one of eight parts that make up a rather complicated leg. Just like cats or dogs, spiders also have claws attached to the paws, but in their case, legs also work as ears and nose picking up subtle changes in the air to hear and recognize smells.

Most of these furry paws belong to tarantulas, of which there are around 900 species. Some of them have leg span for up to 30cm - as large as your average dinner plate. The paws are actually called claw tufts that can have around 600,000 tiny strands of fur sticking out. This density of hairs helps the spider travel on vertical surfaces and even glass. So technically the answer to the question "Do spiders have paws?" would be a no, but let's not diffuse this lovely illusion of spiders being cute.

Science aside, these things simply look adorable! A fact that I hope to remember the next time I'll be freaking out while looking at a spider in my kitchen. Check our selection of cute spider paws and you'll be pleasantly surprised on a sudden change in feelings for these arachnids.