Types of Spiders
| Types of Spiders Orb Weavers: Family Araneidae Genus Araneus Argiope (Writing Spiders) Cyclosa (Trashline Orbweaver) Cyrtophora (Tropical tent-web Spider) Eriophora (Tropical Orbweaver) Gasteracantha (Spinybacked Orbweavers) Larinioides (Furrow Spiders) Larinia (Striped Orbweaver) Neoscona (Spotted Orbweaver) Orb Weavers: Nephilidae Genus Nephila (Golden Orb Weaver) Orb Weavers: Tetragnathidae Longjawed Orb Weavers Orchard Spider More Web Spiders Cellar Spiders Cobweb Spiders (Theridiidae) Funnel Web Spiders Hacklemesh Weavers (Amaurobiidae) Sheetweb Spiders (Linyphiidae) Hunting Spiders Crab Spiders Daddy Long Legs Fishing Spider Ground Spiders Jumping Spiders Lynx Spiders Hobo Spider House Spiders Huntsman Spider Running Crab Spiders Tarantulas Wolf Spiders Yellow Sac Spider |
Spiders are a specific class of animals called arachnids that range in size from the small jumping spiders commonly seen in residential areas to the Goliath Birdeater tarantula of South America (the largest spider in the world). They differ from insects because they have two body parts and eight legs.
Formal categorizations of spiders often start by placing them in families, based on specific criteria.
A less formal way to think about different types of spiders starts by considering their eating habits. Spiders are carnivores that catch their food in one of two ways. They either use a web or actively hunt on the land or water.
By dint of their circular webs, members of the family Araneidae, more commonly called the Orb Weavers, are probably the most recognizable group of web spiders. However other spider families such as the Long-jawed Orb Weavers, for example, also build orb webs.
All spider webs do not fit the classical orb shape, and funnel web spiders and cobweb spiders represent two types of spiders that choose alternative web building methods.
A variety of hunting spiders, such as the crab spiders, fishing spiders and jumping spiders, can often be found in and around residential areas.
Because spiders are carnivores, 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 details covering spider species arranged by their hunting method and scientific family.
The Spider Pictures and Information page, along with the Spider Clip Art sections provides more spider coverage.
© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels