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...]
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.
Black Widow Spider
The Black Widow spider (Latrodectus spp.) is a spider notorious for its neurotoxic venom (a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells). The Black Widow Spider is a large widow spider found throughout the world and commonly associated with urban habitats or agricultural … [Read more...]
Six Eyed Sand Spider
The Six Eyed Sand Spider (Sicarius hahni) is a medium-sized spider found in deserts and other sandy places in southern Africa. It is a member of the Sicariidae family and close relatives of this spider are sometimes found in both Africa and in South America. Its nearest relatives … [Read more...]
Brazilian Wandering Spider
The Brazilian Wandering Spider (Phoneutria fera) is an aggressive and highly venomous spider. It was first discovered in Brazil hence its name. However, this genus is known to exist elsewhere in South and Central America. The Brazilian Wandering spider is a member of the … [Read more...]
St Andrews Cross Spider
The St Andrews Cross Spider (Argiope keyserlingi) is a common species of orb-web spider found on the east coast of Australia, from central New South Wales to southern Queensland. The St. Andrew's Cross Spider is very similar in appearance to the closely related north Queensland … [Read more...]
Brown Recluse Spider
The Brown Recluse Spider (Loxosceles reclusa) belongs to the genus Loxosceles. They are also known as fiddle-back or violin spiders. Recluse spiders are a venomous genus of spider known for their venomous necrotic (death of cells and living tissue) bite. There are over 100 … [Read more...]
Tangle Web Spiders
The Tangle web Spiders are also known as cobweb spiders and comb-footed spiders. They all belong to the family Theridiidae. Tangle Web Spiders are a large group of spiders with over 2,200 species in 87 genera. Tangle Web Spiders are found throughout the world and are known as … [Read more...]
False Black Widow Spider
Many spiders in the genus 'Steatoda' are mistaken for Black Widow spiders and therefore known as 'False Black Widow Spiders'. They are found among human populations worldwide. False Black Widow Spiders are less harmful to humans than Black Widows, however, their bite can still be … [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...]