silk spider
silk spider, any of the spiders of the genera Nephila and Trichonephila, so named because of the great strength of their silk and the golden color of their huge orb webs. These webs often measure 1 meter (about 3.3 feet) or more in diameter and are suspended between trees by guy lines. Most live in the warmer regions of the world.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Family: Araneidae (sometimes placed in the family Nephilidae)
See also list of arachnids.
Citation Information
Article Title:
silk spider
Website Name:
Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher:
Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published:
09 April 2025
Access Date:
April 16, 2025
