Central Coast Spiders

Central Coast SpidersSpider Index Arachnura higginsi (Scorpion-tailed Spider) Arkys alatus (Winged Arkys) Arkys alticephala (High-headed Arkys) Arkys curtulus (Bird-dropping Spider) Arkys dilatatus (Dilated Arkys) Arkys transversus Arkys enigma Celaenia Deinopis subrufa (Net-casting Spider) Dolophones turrigera (Turreted Wrap-around Spider) Maratus volans (Peacock Spider) Ordgarius magnificus (Magnificent Spider) Servaea villosa (Shaggy-velvet Servaea) Tetragnatha nitens (Shining Long-jawed Spider) Triangular Spiders

The Central Coast are alive… with spiders… with some amazing species calling this place home (checkout our Central Coast Spider Index). Did you know that spiders belong to the class Arachnida, more commonly known as arachnids. This class is shared with other species that include scorpions, harvestmen, ticks and mites.

Spiders are mistakenly called insects, however insects belong to the class Insecta.

The main difference between the two classes are that spiders have eight legs (four pairs of legs), whilst insects have six legs (three pairs of legs). Both spiders and insects belong to the largest group of animals on Earth, known as the arthropods.

Another distinguishing feature of Arachnids are they have no antennae and no wings, with most being carnivorous, that is they feed on pre-digested bodies of insects or other small animals and birds. Some spiders are parasites, whilst many are venomous, secreting poison from specialised glands.

As well as having eight legs, spiders also have chelicerae with fangs that generally are able to inject venom and spinnerets that extrude silk.

Whilst some spider species have venom that is dangerous to humans, there is much scientific research into the application of spider venom as medicine and in the use of non-polluting pesticides. There is also research into the spiders silk production and the application in the human world.

An irrational fear of spiders is known as arachnophobia.

We hope you enjoy the spiders presented here. Special thanks to Michael Doe, whose amazing photographs of spiders are a joy to behold.

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Suborders:
- Mesothelae
- Opisthothelae

Footnote & References

Central CoastFauna Spiders

New South WalesBarunguba Montague Island Bourke Blue Mountains Bundeena Central Coast Kosciuszko National Park Mount Kaputar National Park Lower North Shore Northern Beaches Sapphire Coast Snowy Mountains Region South Coast Stony Range Regional Botanic Garden Sydney