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...]
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.
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
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...]
Mouse Spider
Mouse Spiders are spiders of the genus Missulena. There are 11 known species in this genus, all but one of which are widespread across mainland Australia. Mouse Spiders can be found in both coastal and drier habitats, however, they do not occur in tropical rainforests. One … [Read more...]