KidZone Spider Facts Spiders Are Arachnids

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Dew Laden Web Source: National Geograhic Photo LibraryPhotographer: Medford Taylor

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KidZone Spider FactsSpiders are Arachnids

Spiders belong to a group of animals called “arachnids”. Scorpions, mites, and ticks are also part of the arachnid family. Arachnids are creatures with two body segments, eight legs, no wings or antennae and are not able to chew. Many people think that spiders are insects but they are mistaken since insects have six legs and three main body parts. Most insects have wings.

Arachnids belong to an even larger group of animals called “arthropods” which also include insects and crustaceans (lobster, crabs, shrimp, and barnacles). This is the largest group in the animal kingdom! Approximately 80% of all animals are from this group…that would be over a million different species! There are more than 30 000 different species of spiders.

All spiders are predators and many will eat other spiders. Scientists have found spiders in amber (Did you watch Jurassic Park?) that dates back to about 2 million years. Because spider’s skeletons are quite small and fragile it is difficult to find whole fossilized spiders.

Leanne Guenther

About the Artist/Author:

Hello! I'm Leanne, the creative mind behind KidZone.ws. I love nothing more than enjoying a warm cup of tea and a quiet day with a good friend. Here’s a bit more about me:

Things I Love:

• Writing for Kids: My happy place is creating engaging content that sparks curiosity and joy in young minds.
• Early Childhood Education: I absolutely adore those early, eager-to-learn years with kids. Their curiosity and enthusiasm are infectious!
• History: Exploring the past helps me understand the present and dream about the future.

Things I Have a Love/Hate Relationship With:

• Technology: I love how it connects us and makes things easier, but why does it have to change so quickly?
• Trivia Nights: I'm your go-to person for fun facts, yet somehow, I always end up in second or third place. Frustrating!
• Gardening: I like to think I have a green thumb, but it has a few brown speckles. My plants and I are working on it.
• Animals: I adore my pets and they bring me so much joy, but oh, the chores! Why can’t they clean up after themselves?

I earned my degree back in the early '90s, and as a lifelong learner, I continue to delve into the things I love. This includes technology (though I struggle to keep up!), art, early childhood education, history, and mythology as it relates to sociology.

I know that while the educational content on KidZone.ws is largely for kids, many of you visiting the site are educators and caregivers. I’ve tried to share some interesting trivia tidbits and fun facts to make your visit enjoyable too. Happy learning!