Spiders

Spiders are the largest order of arachnids. With eight legs, spiders are arthropods (pod means feet) and they have fangs that inject venom to paralyse their prey. Spiders live in almost every habitat except the air and the sea. They can be found on almost every continent except in Antarctica.

There are approximately 40,000 species of spider.

Natural scientists who study spiders and insects are called taxonomists.

Spiders are not classified as insects. Unlike insects they do not have antennae.

The spider's abdomen carry appendages or 'spigots' that work as spinning machines and extrude silk from glands within the abdomen. From strands of silk intricate spider's webs are constructed.

Fact: It takes about one hour for a spider to construct an orb web consisting of circular outlines with spokes extending from a central hub. Orb webs are noticeable when sparkling from the morning dew.

  This is a fairly large spider, which can reach a leg span of 12-15 cm. It is docile and hardy. The colours can vary from grey…

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Amber

This tarantula lives in Central America from Honduras to Costa Rica. It is an ambush predator preying on insects and small vertebrates.…

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Curly Sue

As the name suggests these spiders have brightly coloured red knees, making them easy to recognise. Females can live for up to 30…

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Steve