Jan. 28-Sept. 4, 2023
$8 adults | $7.50 FL. residents, seniors & non-UF college students | $5.50 ages 3-17 | FREE for ages 0-2, UF students & Museum members
Take an eight-legged walk on the wild side with Spiders Alive! This exciting exhibit dives into the world of spiders, scorpions and their relatives with more than a dozen LIVE species on display. Discover the unique traits and characteristics of this diverse group of animals at this interactive, family-friendly experience!
Spiders and their relatives highlight the ecological importance of these animals that include black widows, orb weavers and scorpions. Large touchable models reveal more about spider anatomy and their differences from insects while rare fossils — including one that’s 100 million years old — display species from the past. Videos showcase a variety of unique animal behaviors, such as a diving bell spider living under water and a southern black widow spinning silk. Separate fact from myth and learn about ancient spiders, conservation, venom and more.
Mexican Red KneeFrom: Central Pacific coast of Mexico
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs, lives in silk-lined burrows
Did You Know: Although these creatures have eight eyes and can see both forward and backward, they have poor vision and tend to rely on touch rather than sight to hunt.
Jumping SpiderFrom: Southeastern U.S., Central America and the Caribbean
Nesting/Web Habits: Silken oval nests with an opening at each end
Did You Know: Jumping spiders leave a trail of silk behind them when they jump as a safety cushion in case they miss.
Banded Garden SpiderFrom: Worldwide
Nesting/Web Habits: Large webs often with zigzag patterns in the center
Did You Know: Many spiders of this genus are brightly colored and shine in the sun.
Brazilian Red and White TarantulaFrom: Brazil
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs, hides in burrows
Did You Know: These tarantulas have leg spans that average 6.7 inches.
Huntsman SpiderFrom: Asia
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs; hides in loose bark, under rock crevices and in man-made structures
Did You Know: Mothers guard their eggs, without eating, for nearly three weeks.
Desert Hairy ScorpionFrom: Southwestern U.S.
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs, lives in burrows, caves and crevices
Did You Know: Measuring up to 7 inches in length, these are the largest scorpions in North America.
Indian Ornamental TarantulaFrom: Southeast India
Nesting/Web Habits: Asymmetrical funnel webs
Did You Know: When feeling threatened, these spiders may flash the vibrant yellow spots under their first pair of legs as a warning signal to predators.
Southern Black WidowFrom: Western North America
Nesting/Web Habits: Irregular meshlike webs and cobwebs
Did You Know: By weight, their silk is stronger than steel! Researchers are looking to replicate their silk-making process to use in medical and military materials.
Tailless Whip ScorpionFrom: Southern Africa
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs, hides in caves, crevices and under leaves
Did You Know: Tailless whip scorpions, often called whip spiders, do not produce silk.
Metallica TarantulaFrom: Southeast India
Nesting/Web Habits: Funnel-shaped webs in tree cavities
Did You Know: This species is thought to only reside in an area of less than 39 square miles, which is becoming increasingly fragmented due to habitat destruction.
Wolf SpiderFrom: U.S.
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs, lives in burrows and cavities
Did You Know: After hatching, spiderlings are often seen riding on their mother’s back.
Giant VinegaroonFrom: Southwestern U.S., Florida and Mexico
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs and digs burrows
Did You Know: The common name “vinegaroon” comes from the vinegarlike scent of the highly concentrated acetic acid that members of this species can spray out of their whiplike tails.
Funnel-web Grass SpiderFrom: North America
Nesting/Web Habits: Funnel-like webs in grass
Did You Know: This spider’s web is not sticky, it instead entangles prey and the spider runs quickly to catch them.
Goliath Bird EaterFrom: Rainforests in northern South America
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs, lives in silk-lined burrows
Did You Know: As a defense mechanism, they rub their hairs together to create a loud hissing sound that can be heard from 15 feet away! This behavior is called stridulation.
Golden Silk Orb WeaverFrom: Temperate and tropical regions worldwide
Nesting/Web Habits: Large, orb-web shaped webs
Did You Know: Their name comes from the yellow pigments in their silk that makes their webs appear golden in certain light.
Southern House SpiderFrom: Southern U.S., Central and South America
Nesting/Web Habits: Messy webs in between building crevices
Did You Know: Although often mistaken for the brown recluse spider, these spiders are completely harmless and help reduce pest insect populations.
Fishing SpiderFrom: Southeastern U.S.
Nesting/Web Habits: Doesn’t create webs and lives near bodies of water
Did You Know: These spiders are covered in hydrophobic hairs that allow them to walk on water.
Acknowledgements
“Spiders Alive!” is owned and operated by Peeling Productions, and produced by the American Museum of Natural History and sponsored in part by Visit Gainesville/Alachua County, University of Florida Student Government and the Florida Division of Arts and Culture. Original version of the photo used in the featured image is by Jan Rozehnal, used under CC BY.