Types of Spiders

Spiders Genus Araneus (orbweavers) Cellar Spiders Running Crab Spiders Funnel Web Spiders House Spiders Crab Spiders Daddy Long Legs Fishing Spiders Wolf Spiders Jumping Spiders Writing Spiders Long-jawed Orb Weavers Related Albums Butterfly Pictures Dragonfly Pictures Types of Birds Turtle Pictures Types of Flies

Spiders are a class of insects called arachnids.

They differ from insects because they have two body parts and eight legs. Insects have three body parts and six legs.

There are different ways to categorize spiders. If you start with spider eating habits, they are carnivores, then a simple two category typology follows.

Spiders are either webbies or hunters.

Some species use webs to catch their prey.

Other species actively hunt their prey on air, land or water without the assistance of a web.

Spiders range in size with jumping spiders among the smallest spiders that people commonly see in their daily lives. The goliath birdeater tarantula of South American, on the other hand, ranks as the largest spider in the world.

Because spiders are carnivores (meat-eaters), people fear them. Not only do spiders bite humans, but the bites of a few spider species cause a great deal of pain, and in rarer instances, death.

By far, the vast majority of spider species are not dangerous to humans. Rather, most common spiders are considered beneficial. They eat insects that humans consider pests.

To learn more about different types of spiders, click on any of the links in the box. They point to pictures and descriptions of spider species arranged mostly according to families.

The spider articles section provides more spider coverage.

Students may use a picture for a report as long as they also use the provided copyright label. No further permission is needed.