Remember the last time you took a walk through a field of grass? How many spiders did you see along the way? Perhaps you didn't see any spiders at all. But they were there. How many spiders did you see in your home today? Perhaps none. But they were there too. Spiders are very common creatures. They live almost everywhere on earth. Once, when people counted the number of spiders in a grassy field in England, they found that there were more than 2 million spiders in 1 acre.
Spiders are found in deserts, high mountains, grasslands, marshes, and forest. Some live in caves; others live on beaches. Many kinds of spiders live in peoples homes and gardens. There is even a spider that spends its entire life underwater.
The Body Of A Spider
Some people confuse spiders with insects. Both spiders and insects belong to a large group of animals called "arthropods". Arthropods are invertebrates with jointed legs and a tough outer skeleton. The skeleton, called the "exoskeleton", is like a suit of armor. It protects the soft body parts from disease and from drying out. Some spider's brains extend out into their legs! Muscles are attached to the inner surface of the exoskeleton.An insects body is divided into three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen. A spiders body has only two parts. The front part is a combined head and chest. The back part of a spiders body is the abdomen. Its connected to the cephalothorax it is covered by a large hard shield called the carapace. At the front end of the carapace are the eyes.
Most spiders have eight simple eyes. Insects usually have five eyes: two large compound eyes and three simple eyes. Insects also have antennae, or feelers on there heads; spiders do not have antennae. But don't worry because spiders don't usually hurt you unless you hurt or bother them.
Written and typed by Rachel and Sarah
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