Arachnology is the scientific study of spiders and related organisms such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, collectively called arachnids. However, the study of ticks and mites is sometimes not included in arachnology, but is called Acarology. Those who study spiders are arachnologists. Charles Darwin gave new stimulus and new direction to morphology and physiology, by uniting them as part of a common biological theory: the theory of organic evolution but a part of the wider doctrine of universal evolution based on the laws of physics and chemistry. ... Part of a scientific laboratory at the University of Cologne. ... Diversity 111 families, 40,000 species Suborders Mesothelae Mygalomorphae Araneomorphae  See table of families Closeup image of a Wolf Spider Wikispecies has information related to: Spiders Spiders are predatory invertebrate animals that have two body segments, eight legs, no chewing mouth parts and no wings. ... Superfamilies Pseudochactoidea Buthoidea Chaeriloidea Chactoidea Iuroidea Scorpionoidea See classification for families. ... A pseudoscorpion, (also known as a false scorpion or book scorpion), is an invertebrate animal belonging to the order Pseudoscorpionida in the class Arachnida, in the subphylum Chelicerata of the phylum Arthropoda. ... The Phalangids (legacy name) or Opiliones (better known as harvestmen) are eight-legged invertebrate animals belonging to the order Opiliones in the class Arachnida, in the subphylum Chelicerata of the phylum Arthropoda. ... Orders See text. ... Families Ixodidae - Hard ticks Argasidae - Soft ticks Nuttalliellidae Wikispecies has information related to: Ixodoidea Tick is the common name for the small arachnids that, along with mites, constitute the order Acarina. ... Families Tetranychidae - Spider mites Eriophyidae - Gall mites Sarcoptidae - Sarcoptic Mange mites The mites and ticks, order Acarina or Acari, belong to the Arachnida and are among the most diverse and successful of all the invertebrate groups, although some way behind the insects. ... Look up acarology in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Classification

Arachnologists are primarily responsible for classifying arachnids. This can be a tedious task due to the sheer number of arachnids in existence. Two species of arachnids may appear virtually identical while two others of the same species may boast very different traits. Often enough, it is only possible to discern two species by dissecting the specimen under a microscope. Although about 40,000 species have been described since Carl Alexander Clerck described the first spiders 250 years ago, estimates vary how many species are as yet undescribed, with some setting the number as high as 200,000. Not only do scientists find new species in the field, but lots of specimens stored in collections are waiting to be described and classified. There are museum collections of spiders already 100 years old, with specimens half macerated and discolored, still not identified. [1] In biology, specimen is an individual animal or a plant or a microorganism that is used as a representative to study the properties of the whole population of that species. ... Robert Hookes microscope (1665) - an engineered device used to study living systems. ... Carl Alexander Clerck (1709-22 July 1765) was a Swedish entomologist and arachnologist. ...

Because it is much easier to study the morphology of dead spiders than to observe their behavior in the wild, with many species living in very unaccessible places, the study of spider behavior has been much neglected. The behavior of spiders is an often neglected topic in the study of arachnology, stemming from the fact that it is much easier to collect dead specimens for later examination than to observe them in their often unaccessible habitat, or to create laboratory conditions suitable for the observation of natural...

Popular Arachnology

Around 1970 arachnids became popular pets (specifically tarantulas). This prompted sellers and breeders to appoint a second name to each type (known as a common name). Brachypelma smithi for example has become known as the Mexican redknee tarantula ever since it entered the pet trade. Genera Subfamily Acanthopelminae Acanthopelma Subfamily Aviculariinae Avicularia Subfamily Eumenophorinae Citharischius Phoneyusa Subfamily Harpactirinae Pterinochilus Subfamily Ischnocolinae Subfamily Ornithoctoninae Cyriopagopus Haplopelma Subfamily Poecilotheriinae Poecilotheria Subfamily Selenocosmiinae Chilobrachys Psalmopoeus Subfamily Selenogyrinae Subfamily Stromatopelminae Heteroscodra Subfamily Theraphosinae Acanthoscurria Aphonopelma Brachypelma Chromatopelma Eupalaestrus Grammostola Lasiodora Megaphobema Nhandu Theraphosa Subfamily Thrigmopoeinae Tarantulas are spiders belonging... The Breeders are an American rock band, formed in 1988 as a side project between Kim Deal of Pixies and Tanya Donelly of Throwing Muses. ... Binomial name Brachypelma smithi F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897 The Mexican redknee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) is a species of terrestrial tarantula native to Mexico, but might be found in small numbers in neighboring countries. ...

See also

• Entomology
• Important publications in arachnology
• Category:Arachnologists

Not to be confused with Etymology, the study of the origin of words. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

External links

• The Arachnology Home Page - 2500 links to sites with info and pictures of spiders and other arachnids
• Tarantulas.us - Forums - Tarantula Discussion Boards and Caresheets.
• Spider Myths: Spiders are Easy to Identify

• Tarantula Photos - The largest photo gallery of all tarantula's species.