Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Nature documentary—spider edition. 🕷️
In Britannica's 1956 film "SPIDERS," you see it all. We've got spiders spinning their webs; spiders forming egg sacs; spider eggs hatching; spiders in various stages of development; and spiders hunting and trapping insects. But
The category of spiders includes any of more than 51,500 species of arachnids that differ from insects in having eight legs rather than six and in having the body divided into two parts rather than three. Almost all spiders are predators, active hunters that chase and overpower their prey. And even though spiders are small compared to us humans, many humans are still afraid of them.
Should we be? And how did our understanding of spiders back in 1956 differ from what we know now?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
More from Britannica:
What Is a Spider? britannica.com/animal/spider-arachnid
List of Spiders: britannica.com/science/list-of-spiders
9 of the World's Deadliest Spiders: britannica.com/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-spiders
How Do Spiders Make Their Webs? britannica.com/science/How-Do-Spiders-Make-Webs
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#EncyclopaediaBritannica
Inspiring curiosity and the joy of learning since 1768.
Web: britannica.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Britannica
Twitter: twitter.com/Britannica
Instagram: instagram.com/Britannica
FROM THE ARCHIVES: Nature documentary—spider edition. 🕷️
In Britannica's 1956 film "SPIDERS," you see it all. We've got spiders spinning their webs; spiders forming egg sacs; spider eggs hatching; spiders in various stages of development; and spiders hunting and trapping insects. But
The category of spiders includes any of more than 51,500 species of arachnids that differ from insects in having eight legs rather than six and in having the body divided into two parts rather than three. Almost all spiders are predators, active hunters that chase and overpower their prey. And even though spiders are small compared to us humans, many humans are still afraid of them.
Should we be? And how did our understanding of spiders back in 1956 differ from what we know now?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
More from Britannica:
What Is a Spider? britannica.com/animal/spider-arachnid
List of Spiders: britannica.com/science/list-of-spiders
9 of the World's Deadliest Spiders: britannica.com/list/9-of-the-worlds-deadliest-spiders
How Do Spiders Make Their Webs? britannica.com/science/How-Do-Spiders-Make-Webs
~~~
#EncyclopaediaBritannica
Inspiring curiosity and the joy of learning since 1768.
Web: britannica.com
Facebook: facebook.com/Britannica
Twitter: twitter.com/Britannica
Instagram: instagram.com/Britannica
