Arachnology

/ˌærəkˈnɒlədʒi/ noun

Definition

The scientific study of spiders and other arachnids, including their behavior, anatomy, and classification.

Etymology

From Greek 'arachne' (spider) and '-logia' (study of). The term combines the ancient Greek word for spider with the scientific suffix for a field of study, emerging in the 19th century as entomology expanded to include non-insect arthropods.

Kelly Says

Arachnology is a surprisingly young science—the first arachnologist wasn't formally named until the 1800s, yet spiders have fascinated humans for thousands of years. Ancient Greeks even had myths about spiders (Arachne the weaver), showing how long we've been obsessed with these eight-legged creatures.

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