Composition of the hemolymph of the tarantulaEurypelma californicum

Abstract

1. Cell-free hemolymph of the tarantulaEurypelma californicum has been analysed for its inorganic and organic constituents (Tables 1, 2, and 3). 2. Free carbohydrates are 0.15 g/l, the main blood sugar being glucose. Protein-bound carbohydrates are 0.58 g/l. Protein concentration is 56.9 g/l. 3. The concentration of free amino acids is 0.52 mmol/l (Table 2), proline being the dominant free amino acid in the hemolymph. 4. The lipid content is 0.41 g/l (Table 3), the main fatty acids are palmitic and stearic acids. 5. The blood pH value was determined at 7.81. The osmolarity of 477 mosmol/l is fully accounted for by the concentrations of inorganic ions and other low molecular weight compounds, suggesting that essentially all blood components have been determined.