15 most unusual species of spiders that are completely different from their typical representatives (16 photos)

Spiders are phenomenal creatures of nature, striking in their diversity and exoticism. Among the many species of arachnids, there are such unusual representatives that it is difficult to believe in their existence.





Some are brightly colored and skillfully imitate dangerous predators to scare away enemies. Others use camouflage to disappear into their surroundings. There are also spiders that have fantastic survival strategies. Yes, many people are afraid of these creatures. However, in most cases, this fear is completely unfounded, since many of them pose absolutely no danger to people.

Ladybug spider



Harmless tropical spiders have evolved to imitate inedible ladybugs to ensure their safety. They live in Africa and South Asia.

Peacock spider





The peacock spider is poisonous. However, it does not pose any danger to people and animals. The bright creatures got their name not only because of their color, but also because of the funny dance that males perform in front of females during the mating season.

Scorpion-tailed spider



The spider got its name from its unusual abdomen, ending in a “tail” similar to that of a scorpion. However, only the females of this species have such a treasure. The male is more similar to a regular spider and is significantly smaller in size. When threatened, the spider arches its tail, as a scorpion would do, and shakes it threateningly. These creatures are found in Australia. Despite its menacing appearance, the scorpion spider does not pose a danger to humans.

Spiny orb-weaving spider



This spider has six unusual spines located along the edges of its wide abdomen. They give the spider a threatening appearance and perfectly protect it from predators. The charmer's bites are quite painful, but fortunately not dangerous.

Whip spider



This spider, native to Australia, has a long, thin abdomen similar to the body of a snake. Its unusual appearance is an example of excellent camouflage. Looking like a small twig caught in a spider's web, it eludes the attention of most predators.

Smiling spider



This spider is sometimes called a smiley face. According to scientists, its unusual coloring was created to scare away birds and animals. You can meet a smiling spider exclusively in the Hawaiian Islands.

Mirror Spider



This is one of the most beautiful arachnids in the world. Its abdomen is decorated with a silver-black pattern, which, shimmering, resembles a mirror.

Eight point crab spider



The beautiful color of the spider serves solely for camouflage. It spends most of its time on flowers, waiting for suitable prey in the form of bees or other insects. The crab spider does not spin webs, preferring to use its modified forelimbs.

Cyclocosmia or trapdoor spider



Cyclocosmia is an interesting and unusual species of spider that is of interest to lovers of insects and arachnids. It has a unique defense strategy: it creates a burrow in the soil that serves as a shelter. Another feature of spiders is the presence of a truncated abdomen, which ends in a durable chitinous disk that resembles a hatch.

Haymaker rabbit



The body of this spider resembles either a creepy rabbit with yellow eyes, or a black dog. In this case, the creature’s eyes are located much lower. The peculiar color of the spider is designed to scare away predators. Moreover, in itself it is not at all dangerous; its legs and teeth are not capable of causing harm even to small insects.

Bagheera Kipling's Spider



While all jumping spiders are carnivores, Kipling's Bagheera does well as a vegetarian. The creature feeds mainly on acacia buds and nectar (in extremely rare cases it can feast on larvae). Kipling's Bagheera uses his agility to avoid the aggressive ants that usually protect acacia trees from other animals.

Long-horned orb-weaving spider



This is an unusual and easily recognizable spider, which has not only a bright color, but also interesting horns growing on the sides. Found in countries with tropical and subtropical climates.

Ant jumping spider



This spider can masterfully imitate weaver ants, known for their aggressive nature and massive jaws. No wonder they are not afraid of any predator!

Bird dung spider



This species of spider can magically pretend to be bird droppings. In addition, it can even smell bad, so that potential ill-wishers will definitely not have the desire to feast on it.

Silver spider



This is the only aquatic spider in the world. It is found in Europe, Asia, Great Britain and Siberia. The spider lives in ponds, slow-moving streams and small lakes. Since it cannot obtain oxygen directly from the water, the water spider builds a special underwater shelter out of silk and fills it with air that it carries from the surface (by trapping air bubbles in the hairs covering its body and legs).