Hämähäkkilajit

Hämähäkkilajit encompasses the diverse world of spiders, belonging to the order Araneae. Spiders are arachnids, characterized by having eight legs, two main body segments (cephalothorax and abdomen), and the absence of antennae and wings. They are found in almost every habitat on Earth, from dense forests to arid deserts and even aquatic environments.

The vast majority of spider species are predators, using a variety of hunting strategies to catch their prey, which typically consists of insects and other small invertebrates. Many spiders are famous for their ability to spin silk, which they use for a multitude of purposes including constructing webs for trapping prey, building egg sacs, creating draglines for safety, and even for ballooning to disperse to new locations. The silk produced by spiders is remarkably strong and versatile, composed of proteins.

Spider diversity is immense, with over 48,000 described species and many more yet to be discovered. These species exhibit a wide range of sizes, colors, and behaviors. Some are solitary hunters, while others may live in communities. The life cycle of a spider typically involves hatching from an egg sac, passing through several nymphal stages, and finally reaching adulthood, after which they reproduce. While some spiders possess venom, which they use to immobilize prey, only a very small number of species are considered medically significant to humans.