How Many Eyes Does a Tarantula Have?

Many people will agree that spiders are freaks of nature. There’s a reason why a category of phobia is explicitly dedicated to this family of arthropods. Tarantulas take being scary to a whole new level, thanks to their large size, hairy body, and odd appearance. One more thing that’s scary about tarantulas is the number of eyes they have. Like most spider species, tarantulas have eight eyes. The cluster of eyes is arranged in rows on their head, giving the spider a grotesque appearance if you observe it up close. In this post, we’ll discuss the number of eyes a tarantula has, the functions of the eyes, and other details you need to know about them. 

Tarantula—Number of Eyes 

The tarantula has the same number of eyes as many other spiders. They have eight eyes which are grouped into four pairs. The larger two eyes are visibly located in the middle of their heads; they are hard to miss. There are four smaller ones beneath the large ones, and the final two are on each side of their head. 

The position of the tarantula eyes might differ in each species, though the difference is barely noticeable. What usually varies is the position of the smaller eyes, which can be distributed above or beneath the more prominent eyes. Sometimes the smallest eyes might be hidden away and will only be noticeable if you look closely at the spider.

No matter the position of the eyes in the tarantula, the eyes are at strategic positions of their head, so they can easily get a good view of their surroundings. So, often when the position of the eyes differs, it is to ensure it can still perform its function effectively. 

How Good Is the Tarantula’s Eyesight

With eight eyes, one would expect the tarantula to have a stellar vision. However, this is not the case at all. Despite having many eyes, tarantulas have very poor vision. Although they are not blind, they are very restricted in their sight. 

The number of their eyes and their positioning means they have an all-round vision. But each eye performs a different function and cannot see very far. Tarantula eyes have peculiar features. Unlike human eyes, which have a soft outer layer, the tarantula’s eyes are covered by some sort of hard exoskeleton. The hard exoskeleton does not allow the eyes to move freely. But what it lacks in movement, it makes up for in terms of numbers.

You can compare the tarantula’s eyesight to that of a short-sighted human. Such a person could see shapes and motion but might not easily recognize the object unless they’re up close. Tarantulas can also see an object’s movement and make out light and darkness, and that’s where it ends.

They depend on their other senses to move, catch prey, and evade predators. Tarantulas have sensitive hairs on their body, which they can use to detect movement, sound, and even smell. Their urticating hair helps them detect prey and potential predators. Their senses are quite heightened, so it almost makes no difference to them that they have poor eyesight. 

Even though the tarantula can not really see objects, the advantage of its four pairs of eyes gives it a wide field of vision. This means it covers a large area, making it sense movement all around it without moving its head. 

Can Tarantulas See Colors?

Objects are not the only things tarantulas can not see; they can also not see or differentiate some colors. The inability to see certain colors is quite common among spiders, so it is not unique to tarantulas. There’s a widely held belief among tarantula hobbyists that these spiders can not see the red color. This knowledge comes in handy for people keeping tarantulas. You can take advantage of this color blindness to prevent the tarantula from seeing you in the dark. Use a red bulb, and you will be able to observe a tarantula without spooking it. 

Tarantulas Eyes and Their Need for It

Even though evolution still allows tarantulas to have eight eyes, there is scarcely any need for it. Most tarantulas in their natural habitat have little or no need for their eyes. Tarantulas that live in grasslands can’t use their eyesight so much because of the bush around them. Those that live in caves, burrows, and enclosed areas hardly have access to light, so they rarely use their eyes for movement or sensing things. This means that unless the tarantulas are arboreal species or live outside their natural habitat, they do not need their eyes, at least not the eight!

Tarantulas’ eyes allow them to differentiate light and darkness, including shadows. This sensitivity to light is what makes it easy for them to distinguish between different shapes and features. Tarantulas are nocturnal animals. When they detect light, they typically withdraw into the shadows. They are also more active at night and have a moderately good night-eye vision. When tarantulas withdraw into dark spaces, they pick up vibrations around them with their urticating hair. 

Why Do Tarantulas Have Eight Eyes?

It piques many people’s curiosity as to why spiders have little need for eyes and maybe so many eyes, whereas humans have just two. Over the years, evolution has shown humans that there is a need to have complex eyes to adapt to the varied environment that we live in. But considering that tarantulas hardly need their eyes, there’s been no need to evolve. 

Tarantulas’ eight eyes are simple and are used for different functions. Instead of combining different functions into two complex eyes like ours, tarantulas retained eight simple eyes. Scientists think this has been like this through millions of years of evolution. Humans and other animals can turn their heads to a certain degree to see things around them. Tarantulas don’t have a neck like ours. It would have been difficult for them to observe if they only had two centrally-located eyes. 

Tarantulas use their central eyes, which are the largest, to detect the shape and color of objects. The eyes located at the side of their head helps them detect motion around them. They are also relatively big but not as big as the central eyes. The other pairs of small eyes support the central and side eyes and ensure they function effectively. 

Can Tarantulas’ Eyes Recognize Their Owners?

As mentioned earlier, the eyes on a tarantula can not see an object; they can only perceive its shape and size. And while they can appreciate the object’s size by its silhouette, their eyes are not advanced enough to see human facial features, meaning there’s no chance your tarantula recognizes you facially. 

Aside from their poor vision, tarantulas are not intelligent enough to recognize their owners. They also don’t have memory, which means they cannot remember their owners, no matter how often they feed or play with them. However, they can remember the routine and get familiar with the environment. 

If you are just getting a tarantula, it will feel threatened the first few days because of your size, and it might attack or want to defend itself. But after a while, it will get used to your size and remain calm unless you do something that scares it, like making a sudden movement.  

Conclusion

Tarantulas have eight eyes, although you might only see one or two pairs clearly. Despite having eight eyes, they have poor vision. They also rely on other senses to detect motion and sounds. Furthermore, they can distinguish light from darkness and can tell the shape of objects. But sadly, no matter how many years they spend with their owners, they can not recognize them.

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