Adelaide Hills FaunaBeetles Birds Spiders

The hills are alive… with spiders. 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.

Milky Flower Spider (Zygometis xanthogaster), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Milky Flower Spider (Zygometis xanthogaster), Belair SA © Marianne Broug

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.

Slender Green Orbweaver (Araneus talipedatus), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Slender Green Orbweaver (Araneus talipedatus), Belair SA © Marianne Broug

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.

Jovial Jumping Spider (Apricia jovialis), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Jovial Jumping Spider (Apricia jovialis), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Opisthoncus nigrofemoratus, Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Opisthoncus nigrofemoratus, Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Isopedella leai, Belair National Park SA © Marianne Broug
Isopedella leai, Belair National Park SA © Marianne Broug
Common Bird-dropping Spider (Celaenia excavata), Belair National Park SA © Marianne Broug
Common Bird-dropping Spider (Celaenia excavata), Belair National Park SA © Marianne Broug
Red-headed Mouse Spider (Missulena occatoria), Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Red-headed Mouse Spider (Missulena occatoria), Belair SA © Marianne Broug

This section is a work in progress…

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

Footnote & References

  1. Photographs © Marianne Broug / Author / Contributor Marianne Broug
  2. Cleland Wildlife Park, National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia, https://www.clelandwildlifepark.sa.gov.au/
  3. Mark Oliphant Conservation Park, National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia, https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/mark-oliphant-conservation-park
  4. Mylor Conservation Park, National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia, https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/mylor-conservation-park
  5. Wittunga Botanic Garden, Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, https://www.botanicgardens.sa.gov.au/visit/wittunga-botanic-garden

Adelaide Hills FaunaBeetles Birds Spiders

Adelaide Hills Fauna Flora FungaFauna Flora Funga

Adelaide HillsAdelaide Hills Attractions Adelaide Hills Towns & Communities Adelaide Hills Fauna Flora Funga

South AustraliaAdelaide Hills Alberrie Creek Algebuckina Bridge Belair National Park Kangaroo Island Kanku–Breakaways Conservation Park Mount Gambier Oodnadatta Oodnadatta Track Orroroo Port Augusta Port Germein Wabma Kadarbu Conservation Park William Creek Wilpena Pound Witjira National Park Woomera