Some people treasure spiders as pets, while others get creeped out by them. Spiders are spread all over the world both in open nature and in our homes. There are thousands of species, some more venomous than others, to the point that they can kill a man in a matter of minutes. All spiders create silk and design complex webs in which they catch their prey, climb and lay eggs, despite their incredible diversity.



All spiders depend on their venom for survival. Using venom is the way spiders hunt and defend themselves. From the many thousands species only about two hundred actually represent a threat to human health. The great thing about these creatures is that they have adapted to the harshest of environments from the desert and the tropics to the Arctic areas where they can live underwater.

In terms of gender relationships, male spiders are famous for being killed right after intercourse, or at least this is the general myth people know. Relatively smaller than the females, the male spiders of certain exotic species are indeed sacrificed for the perpetuation of their breed. Nevertheless, this is not a general rule as in most cases, both males and females survive the encounter.

Well adapted to various living conditions spiders use great camouflage, and they even imitate other species for survival. Most species have six or eight eyes disposed in various groupings on the body. Certain eyes are even more specialized than the others, not to mention the fact that there are also blind eye pairs that are located in various places on the articulate bodies of these creatures.

Spider webs have a particular imprint of their own and are the distinct mark of spiders: thus, some create sheet webs, others spiral webs, not to mention the true mazes that some dangerous species design as deadly traps for their prey. The distinct tangled web the black widow makes is a clear example. The protection of their nests, is yet another reason spiders create webs. Spiders also produce webs above their homes to protect themselves from aerial predators.

The giant tarantula is a famous example of a spider that does not depend on webs for survival. Though they can produce silk threads, they are however hunting their prey down by using the ambush method. Tarantulas often make great pets for spiders lovers, even though they are extremely venomous and dangerous. So, don't be surprised if you see such a hairy creature in a friend's aquarium.