For many people, long-legged spiders, venomous scorpions and blood-sucking ticks are the stuff of nightmares, but to others they are a source of constant fascination. Arachnids dispels common myths and misconceptions to reveal the truth about these weird, wonderful and often beautiful creatures.
With the use of examples from around the globe, the book brings together the current knowledge of the world of arachnids. It describes in accessible language their unique biology, adaptable anatomy and often unusual behaviour. Did you know that spiders often show a high level of parental care, with some actually regurgitating food for their babies? Or that a scorpion’s sting is not in its tail?
The class of Arachnida does not consist of spiders alone but also contains ten other orders including harvestmen, ticks and mites, scorpions, palpigrades, schizomids and many others which are lesser known.
Museum Curator Janet Beccaloni explores each of the eleven orders, their varied habitats and their often complex relationships. She also explains arachnid courtship, feeding techniques, defence strategies, silk production, as well as the unusual practice of autotomy – the deliberate shedding of a body part.
Illustrated by many interesting and often bizarre facts, and with over 200 striking photographs and artworks, this accessible reference will appeal to arachnid enthusiasts and those with a wider interest in the natural world.
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