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Arachnology

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Trichonephila clavipes

Arachnology is the scientific study of arachnids, which comprise spiders and related invertebrates such as scorpions, pseudoscorpions, and harvestmen. Those who study spiders and other arachnids are arachnologists. More narrowly, the study of spiders alone (order Araneae) is known as araneology.[1]

The word "arachnology" derives from the Greek words ἀράχνη, arachnē, "spider"; and -λογία, -logia, "the study of a particular subject". The greek word for "spider" itself refers to Arachne, the female protagonist of an ancient tale of the Greek Mythology.

Arachnology as a science

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Arachnologists are primarily responsible for classifying arachnids and studying aspects of their biology. In the popular imagination, they are sometimes referred to as spider experts. Disciplines within arachnology include naming species and determining their evolutionary relationships to one another (taxonomy and systematics), studying how they interact with other members of their species and/or their environment (behavioural ecology), or how they are distributed in different regions and habitats (faunistics). Other arachnologists perform research on the anatomy or physiology of arachnids, including the venom of spiders and scorpions. Others study the impact of spiders in agricultural ecosystems and whether they can be used as biological control agents.

Subdisciplines

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Arachnology can be broken down into several specialties, including:

Arachnological societies

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Arachnologists are served by a number of scientific societies, both national and international in scope. Their main roles are to encourage the exchange of ideas between researchers, to organise meetings and congresses, and in a number of cases, to publish academic journals. Some are also involved in science outreach programs, such as the European spider of the year, which raise awareness of these animals among the general public.

International

Africa

  • African Arachnological Society (AFRAS) website

Asia

Australasia

Europe

North America

Arachnological journals

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Scientific journals devoted to the study of arachnids include:

  • Acarologia
  • Acta Arachnologica – published by the Arachnological Society of Japan
  • Arachnida: Rivista Aracnologica Italiana
  • Arachnology – published by the British Arachnological Society
  • Arachnology Letters – published by the Arachnologische Gesellschaft
  • International Journal of Acarology
  • Journal of Arachnology – published by the American Arachnological Society
  • Revista Ibérica de Aracnología – published by the Grupo Ibérico de Aracnología
  • Revue Arachnologique
  • Serket
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In the 1970s, arachnids – particularly tarantulas – started to become popular as exotic pets. Many tarantulas consequently became more widely known by their common names, such as Mexican redknee tarantula for Brachypelma hamorii.

Various societies now focus on the husbandry, care, study, and captive breeding of tarantulas, and other arachnids. They also typically produce journals or newsletters with articles and advice on these subjects.

  • British Tarantula Society (BTS) website
  • Deutsche Arachnologische Gesellschaft (DeArGe) website
  • The American Tarantula Society (ATS) website

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Definition of ARANEOLOGY". merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2020-12-23.
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