Have you ever heard of a Peacock Spider? These little arachnids are members of the 'Maratus' genus, and are not just your everyday spider. There are around 108 species known so far, but the vast majority have only recently been discovered and described in the last decade.The … [Read more...]
Arachnids
The arachnids (class Arachnida) are an arthropod group that includes spiders, daddy longlegs, scorpions, mites, and ticks as well as lesser-known subgroups.
There are more than 40,000 species of arachnids in the world.
Arachnids include:
- spiders
- scorpions
- ticks
- mites
While they may seem scary to some people, arachnids play an important role in the ecosystem. They help control the populations of other organisms by preying on them. In this blog post, we will discuss what arachnids are, their characteristics, and some interesting facts about them!
Arachnids are a type of invertebrate animal. Invertebrates are animals that do not have a backbone or spinal column. This includes animals such as insects, crabs, and worms.
Arachnids are classified into three main groups: the Acari (which includes mites and ticks), scorpiones (scorpions), and the Araneae (which include spiders).
Arachnids are found all over the world.
Arachnids have four pairs of legs. They also have two main body parts: the cephalothorax and the abdomen. The cephalothorax is fused with the head, and it houses the arachnid's eyes, mouthparts, and legs. The abdomen is where the arachnid's reproductive organs are located. Arachnids do not have wings, but some can fly by using special structures on their bodies that act as parachutes.
Arachnids are predators. They typically hunt small insects, but some larger species of arachnids can prey on vertebrates such as lizards and rodents.
Did you know?
Nearly all spiders are venomous which they can use to kill or subdue their prey. They inject the venom through hollow fangs.
Arachnids are not dangerous to humans unless they are provoked. However, if you attempt to kill or capture an arachnid, it may defend itself by biting or stinging you.
While the venom of most arachnids is not harmful to humans, there are a few species that can cause serious health problems.
These include the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider.
If you are bitten by one of these spiders, seek medical attention immediately.
Banana Spiders – An Exploration of The Golden Silk Orb-Weaver
There are a few different arachnids that go by the name 'Banana Spider'. I will mention the other pretenders at the end of this post, but for clarity, this post is about the magnificent Golden Silk Orb-Weavers.The golden silk orb-weavers (scientifically known as the genus … [Read more...]
Camel Spider
Sun spiders range from about 0.4 to 2 in. in length and are generally uniform in color. They are usually yellow, brown or black, though a few species have patterns. The solpugids are hairy and have spider-like features. They have two closely placed median eyes and eight legs. … [Read more...]
Tarantula Spider
Tarantulas live in warm areas around the world, including South America, southern North America, southern Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia. The greatest concentration of Tarantulas is in South America. The true Tarantula spiders belong to the family Theraphosidae. They … [Read more...]
Funnel Web Spider
Funnel Web Spiders are some of the worlds most deadly spiders and are found in coastal and mountain regions of eastern and southern Australia. Funnel Web Spiders are found in two genera of the family 'Hadronyche' (which is not associated with any known human fatalities) and Atrax … [Read more...]
New World Tarantula Spider
New World Tarantulas mainly found in the Americas, have bites that generally pose little threat to humans (other than causing localized pain). The primary means of defence for these spiders are urticating hairs, which can cause irritation and other typical symptoms in … [Read more...]
Hobo Spider
Hobo SpiderThe Hobo Spider (Tegenaria agrestis) is a member of the genus of spiders known as funnel web spiders.The Hobo Spider is one of a small number of spiders in North America whose bites are generally considered to be medically significant.Hobo Spider … [Read more...]
Wolf Spider
Wolf Spiders are members of the family Lycosidae. They are so named because their method of hunting is to run down their prey like that of a wolf. Wolf spiders are robust, fast and agile hunters that rely on good eyesight to hunt, typically at night. Wolf spiders resemble nursery … [Read more...]
Huntsman Spider
The Huntsman Spider is a common name given to the family 'Sparassidae'. The larger specimens of these spiders are called 'Wood Spiders' in most parts of Australia, due to their common preference for inhabiting woody places. Huntsman Spiders are a diverse and relatively harmless … [Read more...]
Katipo Spider
Katipo SpiderThe Katipo or Red Katipo Spider (Latrodectus katipo) is a vulnerable, venomous spider native to New Zealand. The Katipo Spider is a widow spider and is related to the black katipo, the Australian red-back spider and the black widow spiders. The Katipo spider is … [Read more...]