Down in the basement or up in the

attic, out in the desert or high in the

mountains--spiders are everywhere. And

they've been here on Earth for more than

380 million years. There are about 30,000

known species, and maybe as many as

three times more yet to be discovered.

They can be as big as 10 inches across or

smaller than the head of a pin. And a few

have a pretty poisonous bite, more

potent than a rattlesnake's!

RS AND TRAP

All spiders are carn/vores, or meal

thatdine mostly on insects. Those kr

wandering spiders are hunters that

for prey. The web builders, howev

sticlqy traps of silk and lie in wait.

TRUE OR TARANTULA

Most common spiders are

called "true spiders." Their

jaws move from side to

side (left). But the big,

hairy spiders (right), most

often called tarantulas in

the United States, have

large fangs and move their

jaws up and down.