$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.
Live Animals
Meet more than a dozen species of spiders and scorpions!
Spider Senses
Get a feel for the eight-legged creatures in the exhibit with large, touchable models of spider organs like eyes, hair, spinnerets (silk-spinning organs) and jaws. See a 100 million-year-old fossilized spider that’s preserved in limestone.
Unseen Habits
Videos throughout the exhibit showcase multiple aspects of spider behavior like web spinning, silk production, venom and more.
Mexican Red Knee From: 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 Spider From: 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 Spider From: 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 Tarantula From: 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 Spider From: 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 Scorpion From: 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 Tarantula From: 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 Widow From: 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 Scorpion From: 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 Tarantula From: 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 Spider From: 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 Vinegaroon From: 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 Spider From: 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 Eater From: 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 Weaver From: 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 Spider From: 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 Spider From: 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.
Touchable (and climbable) elements throughout the exhibit make for a unique interactive experience in “Spiders Alive!’” Photo courtesy of Peeling Productions