Spider Resources

How To Identify Spiders

Spiders display a wide range of appearances, but they share some common characteristics that define their overall body structure. Most spiders have eight long, jointed legs that extend from a central body called the cephalothorax. This cephalothorax is typically fused with the abdomen, giving spiders a compact, two-part body structure. They possess multiple pairs of simple eyes, usually arranged in various patterns depending on the species. Spiders also have chelicerae, which are the structures that house their venomous fangs used for subduing prey. One of the most distinctive features of spiders is their ability to produce silk through specialized spinnerets located at the rear end of the abdomen. Their bodies come in a wide array of colors and patterns, adapted to blend into their respective environments, with variations ranging from vibrant and striking to cryptic and camouflaged. In terms of size, spiders can range from tiny species that are barely visible to the naked eye to larger species with a body length of several inches or more.