Table of Contents

Spiders

Spiders are not insects

We classify spiders as arachnids, which include over 60,000 species of animals. 1)

49,800 species

There are over 49,800 described species of spiders divided into 129 families. 2)

The body of spiders

The body of spiders is made up of two segments. These are the cephalothorax and abdomen, which are joined by the styli. In front of the cephalothorax are the maxillae and behind them are the cephalothoraxes. These are followed by the crotch legs. 3)

Patu digua

The smallest is the Patu digua species native to Colombia, which has a body 0.015 inches long. 4)

Goliath birdeater

The largest spiders are tarantulas, and the goliath birdeater is the biggest of them all. Its body size can reach up to about 5 inches, and if you add its leg span it measures up to 11 inches and weighs up to 6 ounces. 5)

Preputial glands

If there are any protuberances on the abdomen of a spider, they are the preputial glands. 6)

Silk

Spider silk can be used not only to build webs but also to carry sperm, build cocoons for eggs, wrap prey and even build balloons/parachutes so they can fly. 7)

Spider legs

Each spider leg is made up of seven segments (starting with the body, these are the coxa, trochanter, femur, patella, tibia, metatarsus, and tarsus). 8)

Spider vision

In most spiders, vision is not particularly well developed. 9)

Locating prey

To locate prey, some spiders use environmental vibrations. This is common, especially among web-weaving spiders. Some species can also locate prey by detecting changes in air pressure. 10)

Deinopis spider

The eyes of spiders of the genus Deinopis have phenomenal properties by spider standards. To date, 51 species of these spiders have been described. 11)

Blood circulatory

The blood circulatory system of spiders is open. This means they have no veins, but the hemolymph is forced through arteries into the body cavities (hemocoels) surrounding the internal organs. 12)

Breathing

Spiders breathe with the help of lung tubes or tracheae. 13)

Spider vegetarians

Bagheera kiplingi are spiders whose diet is 90% plant-based. 14)

Non-venomous

There are spiders that do not have venom glands at all, these include spiders in the family Uloboridae. 15)

Creating organic pesticide

Work is underway to use the venom of certain spiders to create an organic pesticide. Such a toxin would be able to protect crops from harmful insects without polluting the environment. 16)

Dissolving prey

Spiders are not capable of biting their prey. In most, the mouth apparatus is equipped with a straw-like device that allows the spider to drink the dissolved tissues of its prey. 17)

3000 eggs

Female spiders are capable of laying up to 3,000 eggs. 18)