Spider vision

The eyes of spiders vary significantly in their structure, arrangement, and function. They usually have eight, each being a <a href="/facts/Simple_eye/h3lbYU55">simple eye</a> with a single <a href="/facts/Lens_(optics)/ejlH6n5c">lens</a> rather than multiple units as in the <a href="/facts/Compound_eye/yoRE9HWY">compound eyes</a> of insects. The specific arrangement and structure of the eyes is one of the features used in the identification and classification of different species, genera, and families. Most <a href="/facts/Haplogynae/UcMMj4A8">haplogynes</a> have six eyes, although some have eight (<a href="/facts/Plectreuridae/xcE4qlS1">Plectreuridae</a>), four (e.g., <a href="/facts/Tetrablemma/YMfQdRhG">Tetrablemma</a>) or even two (most <a href="/facts/Caponiidae/SJAdTjhc">Caponiidae</a>). In some cave species, there are no eyes at all (e.g. <a href="/facts/Stalita_taenaria/sSThmpfq">Stalita taenaria</a>). Sometimes one pair of eyes is better developed than the rest. Several families of hunting spiders, such as <a href="/facts/Jumping_spider/gjlule5d">jumping spiders</a> and <a href="/facts/Wolf_spider/Pqasaqb6">wolf spiders</a>, have fair to excellent vision. The main pair of eyes in jumping spiders even sees in colour.

Spider vision open-in-new

Spider vision