Arachnids

eight legs · arthropods · hunters

Eight legs, not six. Arachnids are different from insects because they have eight legs instead of six. This extra pair of legs helps them move faster and catch prey more easily.

A huge family. The arachnid class includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, and many other creatures. There are thousands of different types of arachnids living all over the world.

Amazing hunters. Many arachnids are predators that hunt insects and small animals. Spiders use webs to trap prey, while scorpions use their stinging tails to catch food.

Ancient survivors. Arachnids have been around for over 430 million years, which means they lived on Earth long before dinosaurs. They've survived because they're smart and tough.

Tiny but mighty. Some arachnids like mites are so small you need a microscope to see them, but they live almost everywhere, from soil to skin to stored food.