Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Arachnida (Spiders, Mites, Harvestmen & Relatives)

Scientists have described over 60,000 species of arachnids, most of them spiders. The bodies of arachnids are divided into two segments, the cephalothorax and the abdomen. All arachnids have four pairs of walking legs that are attached to the cephalothorax, a pair of jointed jaws with fangs called the chelicerae, and a pair of pedipalps that are used like arms when feeding and, by males, also for mating. Most species are terrestrial. Unlike insects, arachnids do not have antennae or wings. Arachnids lay eggs and upon hatching the juveniles look like small adults and just get bigger as they grow. Most arachnids are carnivorous, typically preying on insects, including other arachnids, and many arachnids use webs of silk to catch prey. Arachnids provide one means by which nature keeps insect populations under control.