The eight-legged animals such as spiders, harvestmen, scorpions, mites and ticks are those that scientists call the arachnid group.

Spiders may weave webs to trap flying insects or they may run along the ground to catch their prey.

A harvestman has a round body about the size of a currant. It has eight long hair-like legs. It hides under rocks in the day then comes out to hunt for prey or eat plant material at night.

Scorpions have a pair of claws which they use to attack their prey. They also have a long tail with a poisonous sting on the end. When the scorpion is holding its prey with its claws it brings its tail over its head and injects the prey with poison from the sting.

Mites and ticks are very small spider-like arachnids. Mites live in soil, ponds, furniture and carpets. They eat a wide range of foods. Ticks mainly live in the warmer regions of the world and feed by sucking the blood of animals and humans.