The May 30 last, The Martinique Nature Park hosted more than one about 50 people at the Mreason for the Mangrove located at the Forêt Vtable in Trois-Îlets for a scientific exchange on the theme: “Discovering the Spiders of Martinique.”.
Presented by Mr. Patrick Maréchal of the Caribbean Institute for Nature and Culture, this session began with a general description of these animals, followed by a discussion of the species found in Martinique. After a question-and-answer period, the event concluded with a walk through the forest to observe spiders.
Patrick Maréchal
Spiders—do you know anything about them?
A spider is not an insect, but belongs to the class of arachnids, which includes several animal species, such as scorpions and mites. Spiders are distinguished by their four pairs of legs—unlike insects, which have only three—and by their bodies, which consist of two segments rather than three. Unlike most insects, spiders have neither antennae nor wings.
There are two main groups of spiders that are distinguished by the type of chelicerae they possess—an appendage near the mouth that ends in two hooks: tarantulas and so-called «true» spiders. Two well-known species of tarantulas in Martinique are the Caribena versicolor (male) (Matoutou Cliff) and the’Acanthoscurria antillensis. Tarantulas aren't necessarily large, as some measure less than 1 cm.
Acanthoscurria antillensis
In Martinique, more than a hundred species have been recorded to date, but there are still many more to be discovered. On the island, no species is truly dangerous to humans. At worst, their bite can be painful.
The Importance of Spiders: «Key» Species in Ecosystems.
Spiders, being at the top of the food chain, promote greater biodiversity by regulating prey populations. In addition, they are found in every part of the ecosystem, from the soil all the way up to the treetops.
Spiders are also a good indicator of an ecosystem's health, since a large number of spiders indicates a plentiful supply of prey, and a wide variety of spiders indicates a wide variety of prey.
Catching Spiders Using a Japanese Umbrella
Discovering Spiders
After the theory session and the Q&A, it’s time for some hands-on practice. Let’s go on a forest hike to look for spiders. With the right equipment and proper capture techniques, we’ll shake the trees, collect specimens using a Japanese umbrella, and identify them…
Mariska Desmarquis
