What Family Do Spiders Belong To?

Spiders are classified in the phylum Arthropoda. The family includes insects, spiders, scorpions and mites. 80% of all animals in the world are from the arachnid family. In addition, scientists have described more than 100,000 species of arachnids.

Spiders are characterized by two body parts. They have an abdomen and cephalothorax. Their bristles are sensitive to air flow and vibrations.

Anelosimus eximius spiders are known for their social behavior. Colonies may consist of up to fifty thousand individuals. These spiders make web systems up to twenty-five feet long.

Some arachnids have a special reproductive organ called an egg sac. Spider eggs are carried by females. This silk-encased egg sac can be hidden in the spider’s web.

Males of some spider genera amputate their palps before reaching adulthood. This increases their mobility. They may become a food source for females. However, some males are killed by females.

Most arachnids live in terrestrial environments, but there are some arachnids that live in the sea. Sea spiders belong to a subphylum called Chelicerata. Another arachnid subphylum is Orthognatha. These arachnids have large fangs and ample poison glands. Arachnids can range in size from tiny to gigantic.

In many species, the head and thorax of spiders have fused together. There are also several respiratory anatomies. While some very small spiders breathe directly through their body surface, most spiders have a tracheal system. With this system, oxygen interchange is more efficient.

There are two types of silk glands. One type is used for spinning three-dimensional non-sticky webs, and another is for producing a specialized fiber for catching prey.