Question 2 of 21

A spider's diet falls into which of these categories?

... Spiders feed on the insects they trap in their webs. They are the consummate carnivore.

Question 3 of 21

Scientists believe that spiders have existed for how long?

... According to evolutionary theory, spiders have been on the Earth for more than 400 million years.

Question 4 of 21

Approximately how many recorded species of spiders are there?

... There are about 40,000 recorded species of spiders -- that's 10 times the number of species of mammals -- and scientists believe there are many more to be found.

Question 5 of 21

Spiders share an order with which of these?

... While they might seem like insects, spiders have several features that distinguish them from that class. They are arachnids, in the same order as ticks and scorpions.

Question 6 of 21

Spiders have the ability to produce which of these materials?

... Spiders are among a small group of animals that can produce silk. The silk they produce is one of the strongest materials known to man.

Question 7 of 21

How many segments does a single leg of a spider have?

... While it is well known that spiders have eight legs, it is not as well known that each leg is made up of seven sections. This feature provides spiders with exceptional agility.

Question 8 of 21

How many sections does a spider's body have?

... One of the features that distinguishes spiders from insects is that a spider's body has only two sections -- cephalothorax and abdomen -- rather than the three found in insects.

Question 9 of 21

Which of these do spiders use as their primary sense?

... Some animals rely primary on smell, others on sight, and still others on hearing. A spider's primary sense is its sense of touch.

Question 10 of 21

What do spiders use to feel vibrations around them?

... A spider's body is covered in hairs that are extremely sensitive to touch and movement. Spiders can feel even very low-level vibrations with these hairs.

Question 11 of 21

How many types of respiratory systems will you find among spiders?

... There are two types: the trachea and the book lungs. A particular species may have one or both.

Question 12 of 21

Spiders use the hairs at the end of their legs to do what?

... At the end of their legs, many spiders have hairs with microscopic feet. These feet allow spiders to grab onto just about any surface, no matter how smooth.

Question 13 of 21

The exoskeleton of a spider is made of what material?

... The exoskeleton of a spider is made of material called cuticle, which is a combination of a sugar-based polymer known as chitin, and various proteins.

Question 14 of 21

Why must spiders molt in order to grow?

... While the cuticle from which a spider's exoskeleton is made is very strong, it is unable to grow. Spiders, therefore, must continuously molt, increasing their exoskeleton each time.

Question 15 of 21

How do spiders shed their old exoskeletons when they molt?

... Spiders use internal pressure created by expanding their cephalothorax, as well as shear strength, to crack their old exoskeletons. They flex and wiggle until they have escaped their old shell.

Question 16 of 21

How much stronger is spider silk than steel?

... If you compare two samples of equal mass, spider silk is five times stronger than steel. Those huge cables that hold up bridges would be thin little ropes if they were made of spider silk!

Question 17 of 21

Scientists are attempting to increase the available amount of spider silk in which of these ways?

... Scientists at Nexia Biotechnologies are attempting to develop a species of goat that can produce spider silk, thus dramatically increasing the rate of silk production.

Question 18 of 21

What do orb spiders do with the silk of a deteriorated web?

... When a web has deteriorated beyond repair, orb spiders eat the remaining silk, and then recycle the raw materials into new silk.

Question 19 of 21

Which of these species of spider hunts by changing colors to adapt to its surrounding?

... In just a couple of days, the yellow crab spider can change colors to match the flowers on which it hunts.

Question 20 of 21

Which of these species of spider is known to carry its young on its back to protect them from predators?

... A wolf spider will carry its young on its back until the young are able to care for themselves.

Question 21 of 21

The world's longest-living spider belongs to which of these species?

... There are female tarantulas that live up to 20 years. The majority of species, however, live from a few months to a couple of years.