Bark spiders spin webs ten times stronger than Kevlar. Jumping spiders are capable of learning, recognizing, and remembering colors. Recluse spiders can tolerate six months of extreme drought and have a toxin-laden bite that can necessitate skin grafts.

This title explores the huge diversity of spider species and their fascinating traits. An introduction outlining the spider’s natural history is followed by 117 illustrated profiles spanning the taxonomic spider families.

Photographs of species from each family are shown, along with population distribution maps, tables of essential information, and commentaries revealing notable characteristics.

The family profiles are also organized phylogenetically, and the commentaries in each account reflect different aspects of a spider’s biology.