How Small Are Spiders?
WouterSpiders are creepy and spooky creatures, but they have a number of unique physical features. While their bodies may look flat, spiders have eight legs and a hollow outer skeleton. They can be found on all continents. They also can live in forests, near rivers, and even in houses. They generally capture prey, such as insects, worms, and other arthropods.
The body of a spider includes an abdomen, a cephalothorax (head and legs), and a pterygium (arms and legs). The legs have a large awl, which allows the spider to amputate its own leg. The silk that the spider secretes is a strong and tough fiber. It is about 30 times thinner than human hair and is the strongest natural material known. It is used for making webs, as well as for movement.
Some spiders are ambush predators, while others wait until their prey enters a web to take their meal. The American Nursery Web Spider is a common ambush predator that lives in hidden and dark places. It is light brown with dark brown spots on its legs. It can swim on the surface of water and dive under to escape its attacker.
During the spring and summer, the numbers of arboreal spiders increase. These species live in trees and move out of them as the leaves start to fall. By November, however, most of the arboreal spiders have disappeared.
Running Crab Spiders are smaller than jumping spiders, but they are active hunters. They ambush insects on flowers and vegetation.
