spider
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What are spiders, and to which animal group do they belong?
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How do spiders differ from insects?
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What is the largest species of spider in the world?
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How do spiders use their silk webs?
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What are some common types of spiders found around the world?
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How do spiders catch and eat their prey?
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What role do spiders play in ecosystems and why are they important?
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How do spiders protect themselves from predators?
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What are some unique adaptations spiders have developed to survive?
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spider, (order Araneae), any of more than 51,500 species of arachnids that differ from insects in having eight legs rather than six and in having the body divided into two parts rather than three. The use of silk is highly developed among spiders. Spider behavior and appearance are diverse, and the araneids outside Europe, Japan, and North America have not been thoroughly collected and studied. See also list of spiders.
All spiders, with the exception of the nearly herbivorous Bagheera kiplingi, are predators, feeding almost entirely on other arthropods, especially insects. Some spiders are active hunters that chase and overpower their prey. These typically have a well-developed sense of touch or sight. Other spiders instead weave silk snares, or webs, to capture prey. Webs are instinctively constructed and effectively trap flying insects. Many spiders inject venom into their prey to kill it quickly, whereas others first use silk wrappings to immobilize their victims.