# Spiders (*araneae*) Spiders are amazing creatures that can spin silk to make webs! They come in many shapes and sizes, and some can even jump or run very fast! - **Category:** [Invertebrate](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/invertebrate) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Spiders can be found in various habitats including forests, gardens, and even inside houses. - **Also known as:** web-spinner ![Spiders](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/296992650/medium.jpg) Photo: Rudolph Steenkamp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/296992650) ## Appearance The Spiders has eight jointed legs, two main body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), and typically multiple eyes, often arranged in unique patterns. They exhibit a vast array of colours from drab browns to vibrant reds and greens, making them visually distinct from insects. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Arachnida - **Order:** Araneae ## Interesting facts - A spider's skeleton is on the outside of its body, called an exoskeleton, offering protection! - Many spiders have clear blood, called hemolymph, which helps them survive cold temperatures. - Some spiders can "parachute" by releasing silk into the wind to travel far! - The largest spider, Goliath Birdeater, can grow as big as a dinner plate! ## Special abilities - **Venomous Bite:** Spiders can inject venom through hollow fangs that helps them immobilize prey or defend themselves from predators. - **Vibration Sense:** Spiders has sensitive hairs and slit organs that helps them detect tiny vibrations from prey or danger. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 10 mm - **Leg Count:** 8 - **Eye Count:** 8 - **Number Of Species:** 50000 ## Diet & Feeding Spiders are tiny hunters that mainly eat insects, helping to control pest populations in many habitats. - **Primary Foods:** flies, mosquitoes, beetles, moths, crickets - **Foraging Methods:** Ambush, Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Masked Shrew (*Sorex cinereus*) — Shrews are known predators of various spiders. - **Parasitizes:** Red-banded Sand Wasp (*Ammophila sabulosa*) — Wasp paralyzes spiders to use as food for its larvae. - **Eaten by:** House Fly (*Musca domestica*) — Flies are a very common prey for many spider species. - **Depends on:** Humans (*Homo sapiens*) — Spiders control insect pests in homes and gardens. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Venomous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/venomous): Venomous organisms produce toxins that are injected into another animal, typically through a bite or sting. ## Collections - [Invertebrates](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/invertebrates) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look, but do not touch wild spiders! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Spiders? Compare body proportions, leg shape, abdomen markings and the web, if there is one. Eye arrangement can be decisive but rarely shows up in a casual phone photo. A web is a supporting clue, not proof of who built it. Spider Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Spiders? 10 mm ### What does Spiders eat? Spiders are tiny hunters that mainly eat insects, helping to control pest populations in many habitats. ### Where is Spiders usually found? Spiders can be found in various habitats including forests, gardens, and even inside houses. ### How does Spiders hunt? Ambush and Pursuit ### How many legs does Spiders have? 8 ### How many eyes does Spiders have? 8 ### How many species does Spiders include? 50000 ## Where to spot - [Dallas World Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/dallas-world-aquarium) — Texas, US · Aquarium - [The Living Planet Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-living-planet-aquarium) — Utah, US · Zoo - [Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mystic-aquarium-and-institute-for-exploration) — Connecticut, US · Aquarium - [New York Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/new-york-aquarium-new-york) — New York, US · Aquarium - [Aquarium of the Pacific](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/aquarium-of-the-pacific-us) — US · Zoo - [Newport Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/newport-aquarium-kentucky) — Kentucky, US · Aquarium [View all places to see Spiders](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/spiders) ## More Invertebrate - [Coral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coral) - [Crab Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crab-spider) (*Mecaphesa asperata*) - [Garden Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-spider) (*Araneus diadematus*) - [Brown Recluse Spider](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-recluse-spider) (*Loxosceles reclusa*) --- Source: [Spiders: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spiders)