Scorpions of Southern Africa

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Spiders

Flat Wall Spider

Jumping Spider

Rock Rain Spider

Together with scorpions, spiders are probably the most recognizable of all arachnids. Spiders occur in almost every terrestrial habitat and even some aquatic habitats. Everyone knows that spiders posses silk glands from which they spin silk. Spiders come in many different forms, from ant mimicking spiders to spiders that look like bird droppings. Some are communal, others solitary in their ways. Many spiders are very small indeed while others are huge.

All spiders except a single genera have venom glands (Feather Legged Spiders). Prey is captured using a vareity of techniques. Some spin webs to ensnare prey and others hunt down their prey. All spiders have silk glands which they use to construct webs, nests and egg sacs. Courtship is often a very complex affair. Females lay eggs in egg sacs. Depending on the species, the female may guard her eggs after they are laid. Many hundreds of young may be produced. In some species, the female looks after the young spiderlings for the first part of their life.

Web Bound Spiders