Understanding and Recognizing Spiders

When we, as spider researchers, talk to laypeople about our favorite animals, two completely different reactions are normal: (1) Ah, these are the animals that build those beautiful webs (they always mean orb webs); or (2) Oh my goodness, these are the big, ugly, hairy creatures that lurk in our bathrooms and are even venomous. We, therefore, regularly experience the fact that we are sure to attract attention, as the fascination with spiders is always there, whether it is positive or negative. But what exactly do spiders look like, and what is so special about them? In this introductory chapter, we describe the most important features of the structure and life of spiders. For those who want to know more about this fascinating group of animals, we are happy to refer you to our introductory book, “All You Need to Know About Spiders.”