Video of spider heart beating - real?

In summary, the person in the video claims that the noise in the background is a howler monkey and you'll hear the guy making a howling sound back early in the video. Sounds strange, but anyway.
  • #1
Newai
32
1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw9UUuUpmcQ

Seems like it is faked, but I dunno. BTW, the uploader explained that the noise in the background is a howler monkey and you'll hear the guy making a howling sound back early in the video. Sounds strange, but anyway.

That's the spider's exoskeleton. I am having trouble believing this.
 
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  • #2
Looks pretty legit, but with all the special effects we have today, the guy could have just been expanding it on a program.

Fake or not, if I was there and I saw that thing out of nowhere, you wouldn't see me there in 5 seconds because I would be running away. If I found the spider first, then I would examine it, but if that spider came out of nowhere, then I would get scared so badly lol.
 
  • #3
I'm familiar with either that or a similar, Florida-inhabiting species. It's exoskeleton appears to be cracked. If you'll look http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider#Circulation_and_respiration", you'll see a spider's heart exists directly beneath the location where the exoskeleton was moving back and forth.
 
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  • #4
mugaliens said:
I'm familiar with either that or a similar, Florida-inhabiting species. It's exoskeleton appears to be cracked. If you'll look http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider#Circulation_and_respiration", you'll see a spider's heart exists directly beneath the location where the exoskeleton was moving back and forth.

That is awesome. You said that it appears to be cracked, does that mean that it is just some sort of illusion? I'm not a fan of spiders but the way that that one looks, it's just awesome lulz :P
 
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  • #5
I was going to show you all how silly this is by noting the typical heart rate of a spider. Surely a spider has a very fast beat! But I guess the joke's on me.

Heart rate in spiders: influence of body size and foraging energetics
JE Carrel and RD Heathcote

Resting heart rates in 18 species of spiders as determined by a cool laser transillumination technique range from 9 to 125 beats per minute. Cardiac frequencies obtained in this fashion may readily serve as a measure of standard rates of metabolism. A spider's resting heart rate is a function of body size and of foraging energetics...
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/193/4248/148

Still, there is nothing directly indicating that we are seeing a heart beat.

Since there is no way to verify the authenticity of the video, the only way to resolve this is for someone to find a proper reference describing what is seen.
 
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  • #6
There is always a possibility that video is not edited, just the pulsation is not a beating heart. No idea what it could be, but there are so many fancy things in animal kingdom you don't have to fake anything to surprise the audience.
 
  • #7
MysticDude said:
That is awesome. You said that it appears to be cracked, does that mean that it is just some sort of illusion? I'm not a fan of spiders but the way that that one looks, it's just awesome lulz :P

I've seen many of these spiders up close. I've never observed any of them with a separation in the shell as depicted in the video. Doesn't mean they don't, but...

Is there an entomologist in the house?
 
  • #8
The guy who made the video claims to be a "Zoologist specializing in insects and arachnids." He describes himself in his blog as "a wandering biologist/ linguist/ ethnographer/ storyteller." His channel at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/memutic

He has a ton of videos all devoted to educating people about creepy critters with these short overviews. He doesn't seem like the sort who would kill such a reputation. But I dunno.
 
  • #9
mugaliens said:
I'm familiar with either that or a similar, Florida-inhabiting species. It's exoskeleton appears to be cracked.

Mhh, it doesn't seem cracked to me. Looks pretty regular. Intact. Besides, this would be a somewhat unusual part for a crack to occur. Still you're perfectly right in pointing to the fact that this kind of pulsation is not normally seen in this, or in fact in any other spider species. Therefore I propose the following solution to the "mystery". As this really is quite a handsome Gasteracantha cancriformis female, I'd say it's that handsome not least because it's just gotten a nice new "costume". In other words, I think, not too long before the video was shot, this spider must've molted. Now, when a spider (or, indeed, any arthropod) molts, it sheds its old exoskeleton, or cuticle, and thereby unveils the new one which has grown just beneath the old one. But when this happens, the substance (mostly chitin) of the new cuticle is not at once fully solidified. It slowly hardens, and gets firm again, once being exposed to the air, though that takes a while. Until then it's fairly smooth (and not a good protection at all). This, in all probability, is what explains why here we can actually sneak a peek at those vital functions going on just beneath the abdominal exoskeleton, which, in these stages, is and behaves rather like a skin.

Ivan Seeking said:
Still, there is nothing directly indicating that we are seeing a heart beat.

It, really, is its "heartbeat". :smile: Though a spider's heart is more like a mere main artery, or a simple (yet thicker, and muscular in order to contract) continuation of the aorta, if you like. It's a channel, or tube, with tiny slits in its sides, which can be shut by valves, called ostia. They're open when the "heart" relaxes, so blood can practically be sucked in -- mainly not out of vessels, but just out of the surrounding tissue. After that, the tube will contract, thus closing the ostia (or pores), keeping the blood in, constraining it and then pressing it forward. So it's essentially a channel-valve-system and not so unlike our own hearts, yet.. different. What we witness in the video, obviously, are simply these very contractions of the central hemocoel. That is, well, the spider's "pulse", or heartbeat...
 
  • #10
jesus that thing is nasty
 
  • #11
Nikitin said:
jesus that thing is nasty

What is that yellow thing? It looks like armor lol. :(
 
  • #12
Yeah that's an arachnid, if anyone could show me a spider with an exoskeleton I would be very happy to see that.
 
  • #13
PhysicsHigh said:
What is that yellow thing? It looks like armor lol. :(

I believe it is there to keep people like us away.

PS. I haven't had biology class in a long time, so I wonder why did only poisonous creatures develop scary-colours? I would expect that any creature which is often hunted would somehow develop such "warning colours" (as the ones who did not would die off)? Maybe it has something to do with location?
 
  • #14
Nikitin said:
I wonder why did only poisonous creatures develop scary-colours?

Nothing to wonder, as the assumption is wrong. Google "Red on yellow, kill a fellow; red on black, friend of Jack".
 
  • #15
I was under the impression many animals developed bright colours just as a warning, regardless of their poison properties or lack of them.

Either way, I wouldn't have my camera that close to it. I'd be miles away
 
  • #16
SpeedOfDark said:
Yeah that's an arachnid, if anyone could show me a spider with an exoskeleton I would be very happy to see that.

You don't have to look far; spiders have exoskeletons.
 
  • #17
Newai said:
You don't have to look far; spiders have exoskeletons.

I recant my statement I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what i was thinking when I said that, I don't think this is a spider though it does look to be an arachnid.
 
  • #18
SpeedOfDark said:
I recant my statement I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what i was thinking when I said that, I don't think this is a spider though it does look to be an arachnid.
Lichtbrandung identified it earlier in the thread.

Wikipedia said:
Gasteracantha cancriformis (the crab spider, spiny-backed orbweaver, spiny orbweaver spider, crab-like orbweaver spider, crab-like spiny orbweaver spider, jewel spider, spiny-bellied orbweaver, jewel box spider or smiley face spider) is a species of spider.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasteracantha_cancriformis
 
  • #19
MysticDude said:
Looks pretty legit, but with all the special effects we have today, the guy could have just been expanding it on a program.

Fake or not, if I was there and I saw that thing out of nowhere, you wouldn't see me there in 5 seconds because I would be running away. If I found the spider first, then I would examine it, but if that spider came out of nowhere, then I would get scared so badly lol.

Looking at your avatar, MD, I would be more worried about the poor spider seeing you! :)
 

1. What is the purpose of a video of a spider's heart beating?

The purpose of a video of a spider's heart beating is to demonstrate the unique physiology and anatomy of spiders. It can also be used to educate people about the intricacies of the circulatory system in arachnids.

2. How does a spider's heart beat?

A spider's heart beats using a muscle called the dorsal vessel, which pumps blood throughout its body. This vessel is located along the spider's back and can often be seen pulsating when the spider is at rest.

3. Is it safe for the spider to have its heart beating filmed?

Yes, it is safe for the spider to have its heart beating filmed. The filming process does not harm the spider in any way, and the video is usually taken from a safe distance to avoid any potential stress or disturbance for the spider.

4. Can the beating of a spider's heart be used to determine its health?

Yes, the beating of a spider's heart can be used to determine its overall health. Changes in heart rate or rhythm can indicate potential health issues in spiders, just like in other animals.

5. Are there any other animals besides spiders that have visible heartbeats?

Yes, there are other animals besides spiders that have visible heartbeats, such as insects, crustaceans, and some mollusks. However, the anatomy and physiology of their circulatory systems may differ from spiders.

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