Podcast
Questions and Answers
Spiders have ______ pairs of walking legs.
Spiders have ______ pairs of walking legs.
four
Spiders breathe through gill-like structures known as ______ lungs.
Spiders breathe through gill-like structures known as ______ lungs.
book
Spiders have ______ body segments; insects have three.
Spiders have ______ body segments; insects have three.
two
Spiders are so different from insects that they belong to an entirely separate classification of animals called the ______.
Spiders are so different from insects that they belong to an entirely separate classification of animals called the ______.
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Spiders see with ______ simple eyes, and they hear and taste with their feet.
Spiders see with ______ simple eyes, and they hear and taste with their feet.
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There may be as many as three thousand ______ on the body and legs of a spider.
There may be as many as three thousand ______ on the body and legs of a spider.
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The ______ in these digestive juices are so strong that they soften much of a spider's meal to the point that it can be sucked into the spider's mouth with little effort.
The ______ in these digestive juices are so strong that they soften much of a spider's meal to the point that it can be sucked into the spider's mouth with little effort.
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Garden spiders lay their eggs in the ______.
Garden spiders lay their eggs in the ______.
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A spiderling emerges by breaking through the ______ with an egg tooth.
A spiderling emerges by breaking through the ______ with an egg tooth.
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Some spiderlings have been found to land on ships as far as ______ miles out to sea.
Some spiderlings have been found to land on ships as far as ______ miles out to sea.
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Study Notes
Spiders vs. Insects
- Spiders have four pairs of walking legs, while insects have three pairs.
- Spiders have two body segments, whereas insects have three.
- Spiders breathe through gill-like structures called book lungs, whereas insects breathe through holes in their bodies.
- Spiders have simple eyes, while insects have both simple and compound eyes.
- Spiders lack antennae, whereas insects have a variety of antennae.
- Most spiders have poisonous fangs that quickly paralyze their prey, a trait shared by only a few insects.
Spider Characteristics
- Spiders breathe through book lungs, which resemble the pages of a book.
- Each "page" (lamella) is separated from the next by pillar-like columns, creating a space for air to flow.
- Blood circulates through the pages, absorbing oxygen from the air flowing between the pages.
Spider Legs
- Spiders do not repair broken legs; they replace them.
- A new leg grows, often shorter than the original, during the next molting process.
- Only immature spiders can grow new legs.
- Mature spiders that lose a leg remain handicapped.
Spider Senses
- Spiders have eight simple eyes.
- They hear and taste with their feet, which have "listening slits" with extremely sensitive nerves.
- These nerves respond to vibrations, triggering immediate responses.
Spider Hunting and Eating
- Spiders use tiny hairs on their legs to examine prey and determine edibility.
- They cover edible prey with digestive juices before chewing, softening the meal.
- The enzymes in these juices are strong, allowing the spider to suck in the softened meal.
Spider Reproduction
- Garden spiders lay eggs in the fall, wrapping 300-800 eggs in an oval, silken cocoon.
- The eggs hatch the following June, with the spiderling emerging by breaking through the egg sac with an egg tooth.
- The spiderling absorbs the remaining yolk into its own body for nutrition.
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Description
Learn about the key differences between spiders and insects, including their body structure, breathing, and senses. This quiz is perfect for biology students and anyone interested in arachnids and insects.
