Spiders are arthropods that belong to the class of arachnids. Representatives of this class, today, there are about 40 thousand species. They differ from each other in their way of life, appearance, and type of nutrition. There are a wide variety of spider species in nature: the smallest and most harmless spiders (0.37 mm), as well as the most dangerous spiders and even the most poisonous spiders in the world (up to 25 cm). And in this article we will tell you about several amazing and interesting species.
Tarantula spider – Theraphosidae
Photo of a tarantula spider
The tarantula spider is perhaps the largest spider in the world, or rather the family of tarantula spiders (Theraphosidae). Some members of this family can reach 30.5 cm in leg span, such as the king baboon, black tarantula and purple tarantula. The body of tarantulas is always densely covered with long and short hairs. Body color can be either gray-brown or bright colors (red, blue, red). Tarantulas live in countries with hot climates (Africa, South America, Oceania, Australia). These spiders inhabit abandoned nests of birds and rodents or dig holes near tree trunks. They are active mainly in the evening. Then they go hunting or catch a prey running nearby. Tarantulas feed on insects, small birds and rodents. These spiders breed in late summer. The female lays eggs in a cobweb cocoon, which she carries with her and does not lose sight of. They protect the offspring, so that the spiderlings that emerge from the cocoon sit on the mother’s abdomen for some time. But soon they begin to lead an independent life. The tarantula's venom paralyzes the victim and decomposes its entrails, then the spider sucks out the contents of the victim's body. For humans, the tarantula's venom is not dangerous, but quite painful. The bite site bakes, hurts and swells, sometimes turning yellow. But these symptoms go away after a few weeks.
Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea)
There are two color variations of the species: pink and red Chilean tarantula
The Chilean pink tarantula is one of the most common house spiders. You cannot catch it in the wild; it is protected by UNESCO, but this is usually not necessary; the pink tarantula reproduces very well in captivity. He owes his popularity to his calm temperament, easy care, low price and attractive appearance. The life expectancy of the Chilean rose tarantula is 15-20 years.
The Chilean tarantula is medium-sized, the main color is brown, pink in places, the whole body is covered with light hairs. In nature, he digs deep holes and spends most of his life in them, but in the terrarium he even drags the substrate occasionally and leads a terrestrial lifestyle. It has difficulty moving on smooth glass surfaces due to poorly developed scopulae.
Cross spider – Araneus
Cross spider
Crossworts are members of the orb weaver family (Araneidae). They belong to the contract web spiders. They have an egg-shaped convex abdomen, on which there is a pattern in the form of a cross. Body color ranges from gray to red. They are covered with long bristles, sparsely distributed throughout the body and densely covered with short, thin hairs. Body length in males is 10-11 mm, in females – 17-40 mm. About 30 species of crosses live in the CIS and Russia. These spiders are active in the evening. They deftly weave webs that catch many small insects. Mating and egg laying occurs in the fall. The female lays eggs in a web cocoon and hides it under the bark or other secluded place. In the spring, spiderlings emerge from the cocoon. By the end of summer, a new generation of spiders grows up, and their mother dies. The cross spider is poisonous, but it is not dangerous to humans. Its bite is painful, but the burning and swelling at the site of the bite goes away after a few hours.
General morphology
An ordinary spider is an animal with 6 pairs of limbs. But a person notices only 4 pairs of legs, since the first 4 limbs of a spider are transformed into organs of nutrition and touch. The body of the arthropod is divided into 2 sections: the cephalothorax and abdomen. Both parts are connected by a short jumper. In the close-up photo of the spider you can see that the cephalothorax is divided by a groove into two parts: the thoracic and cephalic. On the chest there are limbs that provide the spider with movement and help weave a web.
Interesting!
Real spiders are always equipped with spinning glands.
On the head section there are:
- the first pair of limbs transformed into chelicerae;
- the second pair of limbs are pedipalps, which perform the functions of touch and help the spider catch and hold prey;
- eyes;
- mouth opening.
The number of eyes spiders have varies. The majority of arthropods have 8 eyes. Some species have fewer eyes, even their complete absence in spiders living in the eternal darkness of caves.
Interesting!
The reproductive organs of the male are also located on the pedipalps.
Karakurt spider - Latrodectus tredecimguttatus
photo of karakurt
This is not a big black spider at all. The body of the female (10-20 mm) is completely black, which is why she is also called a black widow, the body of the male (4-7 mm) is also black, but with bright red spots on the abdomen (usually 13 spots ). The karakurt spider lives in Central Asia, Iran, Afghanistan, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa, Southern Europe, Kazakhstan, southern Russia and Ukraine. They prefer the slopes of ravines, virgin wormwood, wastelands, and the banks of irrigation ditches. Karakurts inhabit abandoned rodent burrows and ventilation systems, entwining the entrance with cobwebs. In such dens, females and males mate at the end of summer. The female lays her eggs in a cocoon of cobwebs and hangs it in her den. In spring, spiderlings emerge from cocoons. Karakurts feed on small insects. Their venom is toxic to large animals and people. There is a burning sensation and swelling at the site of the bite. After 10-15 minutes, the poison spreads throughout the body and the person experiences pain in the chest and abdominal area. Dizziness, nausea, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and delirium also occur. And if medical assistance is not provided in time, death is possible (in most cases). Karakurt bites through the skin only 0.5 mm, so it is recommended to cauterize the bite site with a lit match within 2 minutes after the bite.
White karakurt - Latrodectus pallidus
Image of white karakurt
This is a white spider, with long legs and a round abdomen. The abdomen is white or milky in color, with 4 indentations. The legs and cephalothorax are yellow or light brown. The white spider has a body 10-20 mm long. Females are larger than males. White spiders weave a web in the shape of a cone, which is connected to a trapping net. They live in North Africa, the Middle East, Iran, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. The white karakurt spider is not aggressive, but its poison is toxic and can cause complications. Children and the elderly are most susceptible to the effects of the poison. Toxicological studies have shown that the poison of the white karakurt is similar to the poison of the karakurt (Latrodectus tredecimtugattus). If you are bitten by this spider, you should consult a doctor.
Mirror spider (Thwaitesia argentiopunctata)
Under a microscope, you can see how the reflective scales on the abdomen pulsate along with the spider's heartbeat
An unusual and very cute spider with sparkles on its abdomen is distributed throughout Australia. It is easy to recognize thanks to the reflective silver spots on its abdomen, but it is difficult to notice. During the day, the miniature spider hides, and at night it builds webs on suitable trees.
Camel spider - Camel spider
Camel spider photo
The camel spider has many names: phalanges, bihors, salpugs, barbers, barbers, wind scorpion. The body (5-7 cm) is slightly oblong, light and dark red, densely covered with long, thin hairs. The camel spider's body shape is similar to a scorpion, especially with its chelicerae (claws). With them he is able to bite through a human nail and even small bird bones. He also uses his chelicerae to trim hairs and feathers from his victims and place them in his home. The camel spider lives in the desert regions of Asia, Africa, America, and Europe. Phalanx spider is a nocturnal predator. It is practically omnivorous and carnivorous, feeding on various insects, rodents, and lizards. Camel spiders have eyes like scorpions: 2 compound eyes in the middle and one on each side of the cephalothorax. Compound eyes are highly responsive to movement, so these spiders are incredibly fast, up to 53 cm/s (1.9 km/h). The camel spider is not poisonous, but it does have an incredibly painful bite. And also on its chelicerae the remains of the tissues of the previous victim can rot, which can cause serious inflammation.
What does a spider look like?
What does a spider look like?
Many people dislike the appearance of arthropods, because they do not have the characteristics inherent in insects. Spiders always have 8 legs, no wings and are distinguished by several pairs of eyes.
Their senses of touch are very specific. The hairs on the legs perceive sounds and smells. The anatomy of a spider is very different from other arthropods.
Jumping spiders – Salticidae
Photo of a jumping spider
Jumping spiders or jumping spiders are a family of araneomorphic spiders that includes 610 genera and 5,800 species. They live in tropical forests, deserts, semi-deserts, temperate forests and mountains. These are small spiders, up to 2 cm long. The body is pubescent. These spiders have well-developed vision. They have 8 eyes, thanks to which they see 360º degrees. Jumping spiders differ from each other in body shape, color and range. There are such types of jumping spiders: - the golden jumping spider lives in the south-east of Asian countries, and is characterized by a long abdominal part and a large first pair of legs. The body has a very peculiar golden color. The length of the male rarely exceeds 76 mm, and the females are larger;
- Himalayan jumping spiders are the smallest spiders. They live high above sea level, in the Himalayas, where their only prey is the occasional small insect that is blown onto the mountain slopes by strong winds;
Green jumping spider
- The green jumping spider lives in New Guinea, New South Wales and Queensland. Often found in Western Australia. The male has a very bright color, and his body is decorated with long white “whiskers”;
Redback jumping spider
- The red-backed species of jumping spider settles in relatively dry areas. The red spider is often found on coastal dunes or oak woodlands in North America. These red spiders are unique in that they are able to build tube-like silken nests under rocks and on the surface of vines;
Hyllus Diardi
- the species Hyllus Diardi has a body up to 1.3 cm long. Compared to other types of jumping spiders, it does not weave a web, therefore, to catch prey, it attaches a silk thread to some support, and then jumps from such a peculiar “bungee” onto its victim;
- the ant jumping spider looks very similar to an ant and is most often found in tropical zones from Africa to central Australia. Body color can vary from light yellow to black.
Ant spider jumping
Jumping spiders are unique in that they can jump long distances (up to 20 times their body size). Before jumping, they cling to the substrate with a web (thus securing their jump), then push their body out with their hind legs. Jumping spiders are absolutely harmless to humans. They have poison, but it has no effect on humans, and their bite is almost painless.
Harmless species
Hunter bordered
A spider of swamps and swamps, it always lives close to water; the semi-aquatic species has an intriguing hunting technique. It detects slight vibrations produced by insects or other creatures, runs along the surface of the water, and grabs prey.
Body length up to 2.2 cm, paw span about 7 cm - this is the largest spider in Russia. The arachnids are brown in color, with a characteristic pale stripe running from the head down the sides of the thick, cigar-shaped body.
Flower spider
It has a short, wide, flat body. The first two pairs of paws are larger than the hind ones and are widely spaced to make it easier to hold prey. Females are from 6 to 9 mm in length, males from 3 to 4 mm. The female is light in color: the back and legs are white or yellow with darker sides and reddish markings on the belly. The male is darker: reddish-brown with a white patch above the eyes. These colors are variable and spiders change color according to the flower they live on. Both sexes have small, venomous fangs for hunting insects.
House spider
The length of the female is from 9 to 10 mm, the male is from 6 to 9 mm. The spiders are quite large and hairy, with long legs, and the color ranges from pale to dark brown. The abdominal cavity has variable soot markings. Males have a slimmer abdomen than females and longer legs. Males are seen more often than females, they are the ones wandering around the house in search of a partner. Once a spider has discovered a female's web, it will stay with her for several weeks, mating with her multiple times during that time. Then he dies, and the female eats the body; nutrients are needed for the development of the offspring.
Knitting spiders
They live in bushes and meadows, especially if they are near a water source. Long-jawed weaver spiders build circular webs, usually parallel to the ground over ponds or streams. Males and females weave webs, but when males reach sexual maturity, they move onto the webs of other spiders, especially females, where they hunt:
- flies;
- ants;
- aphids
Knitting spiders are slender creatures with long legs. They stretch and align their bodies on flower stems, camouflaging themselves from predators. Their sizes range from half to more than a centimeter, depending on the species.
South Russian tarantula
A rather large, usually brown spider, but the color varies depending on the habitat. He has 8 eyes, two of them are large, the rest are the same size. If light shines into the eyes, they glow. There is a distinct violin-shaped marking on the head. The bite is not fatal, but causes an allergic reaction in sensitive people.
Argiope bruennichi or spider wasp - Argiope bruennichi
Photo of wasp spider
Argiope has the second name of the wasp spider, since the color of the body and the shape of the abdomen resemble a wasp. Body length 2-3 cm (leg span). The abdomen is elongated with bright stripes, the predominant colors are yellow, white, and black. The legs are long, thin, and mostly in an X-shaped position. The spider wasp lives in Kazakhstan, Asia Minor, Central Asia, China, Korea, India and Japan, North Africa, Southern and Central Europe, Crimea, and the Caucasus. These spiders are also found quite often in Russia. Argiope belongs to the spiders of the orb-weaving spider family (Araneidae). It is typical for these spiders to weave a wheel-shaped web, and have a stabilimentum (zigzag pattern) in the center. This is a forest spider. It very often settles on lawns, forests, gardens, in tall grass, between tree branches. The wasp spider feeds on various insects. Mating occurs after the female has moulted, while her body remains soft. The female lays eggs in a large cocoon (outwardly resembling a plant seed pod) and places it next to the hunting web. Spiderlings emerge from the cocoon at the beginning of autumn and settle downwind on cobwebs. The wasp spider is not dangerous to humans. Its venom may only cause slight redness, swelling and pain, but these symptoms go away very quickly.
Caribena versicolor
Young spiders are bright blue. As they grow (after a series of moults), they acquire the beautiful color of an adult, as in the photo
One of the most beautiful tarantula spiders. Found naturally in Guadeloupe and Martinique. It settles high in the crowns of trees, where it weaves tunnel-like nests, often of bizarre shape. He usually goes hunting at sunset. Runs quite fast.
Caribena Versicolor is very popular among keepers. It is unpretentious in terms of maintenance, beautiful and grows quickly, has no stinging hairs, is a little shy and not aggressive. Its bite is comparable to that of a wasp.
Wolf spiders – Lycosidae
Photo of a wolf spider
Wolf spiders are a family of araneomorph spiders that number 2,367 species. The body color is usually gray-brown. The body is covered with small short hairs. Some species reach more than 3 cm (leg span). The wolf spider lives almost everywhere except Antarctica. He prefers damp forests, meadows, hiding under fallen leaves, stones, and wood. They don't weave webs. These are earth spiders, so they live in a hole, which is only covered with cobwebs inside. If this is the private sector, you can easily stumble upon it in the basement. If there is a vegetable garden nearby, he can easily get into your cellar. Active at night. The wolf spider hunts insects or catches those who run near its burrow. This spider is a good jumper. He can jump on the victim, securing himself with a web. Mating occurs in the summer. After mating, the female lays eggs in a cocoon that she carries at the end of her abdomen. After 2-3 weeks, the spiderlings emerge from the cocoon and climb onto their mother’s abdomen. They sit like this until they learn to get their own food. The wolf spider is not dangerous to humans. Its bite is equivalent to a bee sting, which causes itching, swelling and redness, which goes away fairly quickly.
Brown recluse spider
This not very attractive creature lives in the east of America. The bite of Loxosceles reclusa is dangerous for humans, since the venom contains substances that can cause necrosis of the subcutaneous tissue. Moreover, these spiders, it turns out, love to live next to people. They can be found behind paintings, baseboards, and in shoe boxes. In the wild, you can meet them under tree bark, in crevices or in burrows. Naturally, this meeting cannot be called friendly.
The bite of recluses is not fatal, although rare cases of death have occurred. Victims describe the moment of the bite as a faint feeling of a needle prick. Some people don't even notice the moment of the bite. But after some time, the poison begins to act, causing tissue necrosis near the bite site.
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Harvesting spiders – Pholcidae
Image of a harvest spider
This family has about 1000 species of spiders. Harvesting spiders have a small body and long thin legs. Body size 2-10 mm. The length of the legs reaches 50 mm. Body color is grayish or reddish. Harvesting spiders are ubiquitous. Some species live in people's homes. There they find warm and dry places, mainly near windows. They feed on small insects. These spiders weave large webs in a chaotic manner. The web is not sticky, but when the victim tries to get out of it, it becomes even more entangled. After mating, females lay eggs in a web cocoon, which they attach to the side of the trapping nets. For humans, harvest spiders are absolutely harmless. Their venom is safe, and the bite cannot be felt.
Reproduction
Female with spiderlings
The mating season for spiders begins in autumn and lasts until spring. At this time, the male goes in search of the female. Having found a suitable candidate, he begins to perform a special dance that attracts attention. If the female reciprocates, then they retire. After this, the male moves away, and the female begins to wait for offspring. After two and a half months, she lays eggs, and after another month, the young hatch from them.
Goliath tarantula - Theraphosa blondi
Photo of Goliath tarantula
This giant spider is considered the largest in the world. The span of its legs reaches 30 cm. In Venezuela (1965), one of the representatives of this species was listed in the Guinness Book of Records. The span of its legs was 28 cm. It is believed that the leg span of Heteropoda maxima is even longer, up to 35 cm. But this species has a small body and long thin legs. So he is small compared to the massive goliath. The body of the goliath is light or dark brown, densely covered with short hairs. They live in burrows, the entrance of which is covered with cobwebs. This huge spider lives in the tropical forests of Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela, and northern Brazil. It feeds on various insects, rodents, frogs, lizards and even snakes. The life expectancy of females is 15-25 years, males - 3-6. These spiders are amazing in that they are able to make a hissing sound by rubbing their chelicerae; the ability to shake hairs from the abdomen into the enemy’s face, which cause swelling of the mucous membrane. The goliath tarantula also has large and sharp chelicerae (claws), with which it can bite very painfully. Their venom is not dangerous to humans; the symptoms are the same as after a bee sting.
Phryn flagellated spider
This is exactly the case when appearance does not correspond to reality. Phryn is an absolutely harmless spider to humans. Its frightening appearance is given by disproportionately long, thin paws, the span of which can reach 25-30 cm, and large pedipalps with spikes, reminiscent of crab claws. These arachnids live in the tropics and subtropics. People rarely see them because they have a cowardly character and prefer to be nocturnal.
Runner spider (soldier spider, banana spider, wandering spider) – Phoneutria
Brazilian spider runner photo
The Brazilian spider is the most poisonous spider in the world. The length of its body reaches 15 cm. The body is pubescent, gray-brown in color. It lives in Central and South America. The runner spider feeds on insects, frogs, lizards, and small birds. Lives in burrows, under leaf litter. But very often, secluded places in people’s homes become its home. It is often called banana because it is often found in boxes of bananas. These scary spiders have incredibly toxic venom that causes instant death, which is why they are the most poisonous spiders in the world. Their venom contains the neurotoxin PhTx3, which paralyzes all muscles in the human body, causing suffocation and then death. Only 2-6 hours pass between the bite and death. Old people and children are most exposed to the runner spider's venom. Today there is a vaccine that neutralizes the effect of the poison, so if you are bitten by a spider, you should immediately consult a doctor.
As you can see, representatives of arachnids are so different: some of them are pleasing to the eye, while the sight of others makes the blood freeze in your veins, some can be picked up or kept in your home as a pet, and some sow fear and bring instant death. Now you know which types of spiders are absolutely harmless and which ones you need to stay away from. The good news is that dangerous species of spiders are not found in our area, but mainly in tropical countries. But you never know what can happen... Nature is absolutely unpredictable.
Appearance and body structure
Spiders are creatures of different sexes, females are much larger than males. The increased size helps them produce more offspring and easily eat the male after mating.
On the back of the underside of the abdomen there are arachnoid warts located in pairs. Between the upper pair there is an anal passage, next to them there are openings necessary for breathing, they are called stigmas (spiracles).
Body
The size varies from 0.3 mm to 10 cm. The smallest (0.37 mm) are males of the species Patu digua from the family Symphytognathae, living in Colombia. The largest are representatives of the tarantula family. For example, females of the species Theraphosa blondi reach 10.4 cm (including paws - 28 cm).
The body of spiders consists of a solid cephalothorax and opisthosoma, connected by a small canal. Like all arthropods, it is covered with an exoskeleton made of chitin. The exoskeleton is updated 5-10 times per life. Moreover, first a new one grows, and then the old one is discarded.
Limbs
Spiders have 4 pairs of legs. Each has hairs that transmit signals about air movement to the brain. With their help, the arachnid representative navigates in space.
In addition to the legs, 2 pedipalps extend from the cephalothorax. They are also covered with bristles. The ends of these limbs have olfactory areas. In some spiders, these body parts are longer, so they can be confused with legs. This means that it is incorrect to identify the animal.
Next to the pedipalps above the mouth there are chelicerae of a curved (like a hook) shape. Inside them are ducts containing poison. Spiders need chelicerae to catch, kill, and tear apart prey.
Vision
The structure of the visual system in spiders is not the same. Therefore, the vision of the world can vary greatly.
Most individuals hardly see further than 30 cm. Eyes are most often 8, but can be from 2 to 12. Simple type. Their location allows for a wide viewing radius (up to 360 degrees). Cave spiders are blind. And the vision of jumping spiders is comparable to that of humans.
Some representatives of this order are able to distinguish colors. For example, a flower spider. They proved that he had color vision through the development of conditioned reflexes. Red, blue and green illumination produced a fly. They gave an electric shock only when the rays were red, when it touched the insect. As a result, the individual no longer tries to capture prey when the lamp with red rays is working.
Pedipalps
Pedipalps are short. With chemical sensors that allow spiders to navigate tastes and smells. The last segment of the pedipalps in sexually mature males is modified. Males use this part of the body to store sexual sperm and fertilize the female. Name of parts of male pedipalps:
- Cymbium - supports the copulatory apparatus.
- Embolus is the ejaculatory duct.
- Bulbus - it contains a reservoir for seminal fluid.
- Shin.
- Patella - often has apotella on it. These are outgrowths that, during mating, help arthropod creatures to better gain a foothold.
- Hip.
The testes do not have a direct connection with the pedipalps. Therefore, before courtship, spiders perform a curious procedure. Males weave webs into nets. The seed is released there. Then the pedipalps are immersed one by one. They suck up sperm. During copulation, an embolus is inserted into the female's reproductive canal and the seminal fluid is released. During copulation, the female is held in place with the help of growths on the front legs.
Color
The color of spiders depends on the pigments bilin (brown tint), guanine (white), etc. The color is also created due to the light reflection of the bristles and hairs.
They lack the most common pigments in the animal world (melanin, carotoid, pterin).
