The Cartwheel is a species of small-sized spiders found in the desert areas of southern Africa. They get their name from their habit of rolling at a very high speed through the sand, especially when threatened.
Size: Around 20 mm, with males and females being the same size.
Color: The base coloration is light gray all over the body and legs, while the abdomen has black marks.
Other Characteristic Features: These spiders do not build cobwebs. Their main way of defense against predators is burying themselves in a burrow lined with silk that can be 40 to 50 cm deep.
The eggs are laid inside burrows in the sand dunes.
Cartwheel spiderlings are taken care of by the mother until they grow up enough to forage for themselves.
Though the bite of this spider is mildly venomous, it is not known to be harmful to humans.
| Other Names | Golden wheel spider, wheel spider |
| Lifespan | 720 to 770 days |
| Distribution | The Namib Desert in the southern parts of Africa |
| Habitat | Sand dunes |
| Common predators | Pompilid wasps (a parasitic species) |
| Diet | Insects and other small invertebrates |
Image Credits: Abc.net.au, Media4.s-nbcnews.com, C1.peakpx.com, Media.istockphoto.com, D.ibtimes.co.uk
The Cartwheel is a species of small-sized spiders found in the desert areas of southern Africa. They get their name from their habit of rolling at a very high speed through the sand, especially when threatened.
Size: Around 20 mm, with males and females being the same size.
Color: The base coloration is light gray all over the body and legs, while the abdomen has black marks.
Other Characteristic Features: These spiders do not build cobwebs. Their main way of defense against predators is burying themselves in a burrow lined with silk that can be 40 to 50 cm deep.
The eggs are laid inside burrows in the sand dunes.
Cartwheel spiderlings are taken care of by the mother until they grow up enough to forage for themselves.
Though the bite of this spider is mildly venomous, it is not known to be harmful to humans.
| Other Names | Golden wheel spider, wheel spider |
| Lifespan | 720 to 770 days |
| Distribution | The Namib Desert in the southern parts of Africa |
| Habitat | Sand dunes |
| Common predators | Pompilid wasps (a parasitic species) |
| Diet | Insects and other small invertebrates |
Image Credits: Abc.net.au, Media4.s-nbcnews.com, C1.peakpx.com, Media.istockphoto.com, D.ibtimes.co.uk
