September 20, 2023

Spiders

They may be creepy, they may be crawly, and in a very few instances they may even be deadly, but spiders are a widely diverse and fascinating species which is absolutely essential to a healthy ecosystem.

There are approximately 38,000 known species of spiders. Scientists believe there are probably as many more to be discovered.

Spiders are found on every continent except Antarctica.

An estimated 1 million spiders live in one acre of land. The number might be closer to 3 million in the tropics. It is estimated that a human is never more than 10 feet away from a spider--ever.

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Today's Random Facts:

Spiders are vital to a healthy ecosystem. They eat harmful insects, pollinate plants, and recycle dead animals and plants back into the earth. They are also a valuable food source for many small mammals, birds, and fish.

The silk in a spider's web is five times stronger than a strand of steel that is the same thickness. A web made of strands of spider silk as thick as pencil could stop a Boeing 747 jumbo jet in flight. Scientists still cannot replicate the strength and elasticity of a spider's silk.

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The world's biggest spider is the goliath spider (Theraphosa blondi). It can grow up to 11 inches wide, and its fangs are up to one inch long. It hunts frogs, lizards, mice, and even small snakes and young birds.

The world's smallest spider is the Patu marplesi. It is so small that 10 of them could fit on the end of a pencil.