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Cartwheel (Carparachne aureoflava)

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.

Cartwheel Spider

Scientific Classification

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Cartwheel Spider Size

Eggs

The eggs are laid inside burrows in the sand dunes.

Spiderlings

Cartwheel spiderlings are taken care of by the mother until they grow up enough to forage for themselves.

How Poisonous is the Wheel Spider

Though the bite of this spider is mildly venomous, it is not known to be harmful to humans.

Cartwheel Spider Desert

Quick Facts

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
Cartwheel Spider Image

Did You Know

  • To escape predators, it can roll at a speed of 1 meter per second (3.3 ft/s), covering up to 44 turns.
Golden Wheel Spider

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.

Cartwheel Spider

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

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.

Cartwheel Spider Size

Eggs

The eggs are laid inside burrows in the sand dunes.

Spiderlings

Cartwheel spiderlings are taken care of by the mother until they grow up enough to forage for themselves.

How Poisonous is the Wheel Spider

Though the bite of this spider is mildly venomous, it is not known to be harmful to humans.

Cartwheel Spider Desert

Quick Facts

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
Cartwheel Spider Image

Did You Know

  • To escape predators, it can roll at a speed of 1 meter per second (3.3 ft/s), covering up to 44 turns.
Golden Wheel Spider

Image Credits: Abc.net.au, Media4.s-nbcnews.com, C1.peakpx.com, Media.istockphoto.com, D.ibtimes.co.uk

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