The effects of leg autotomy on running speed and foraging ability were examined in two species of wolf spider (Schizocosa ocreata and Varacosa terricola). Both species run slower following leg autotomy. However, foraging ability was not affected in either species. Since spiders with one leg autotomized are slower than spiders with all legs intact, they may be more susceptible to predation.
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Amaya et al. (2001) studied this question.
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