Spiders and Their Kin: A Fully Illustrated, Authoritative and Easy-to-Use Guide

by Herbert W. Levi, Lorna R. Levi, Nicholas Strekalovsky (Illustrator)

Enjoy and Learn!
Expert Knowledge!
Easy-to-Read!

This introduction to the diverse yet little known world of spiders is packed with concise, accurate information. With full-color pictures and readable text, this guide identifies representative species and
Their characteristics and habits
Growth, courtship and enemies
Where they are found

Includes information on poisonous species and how to collect, preserve, and raise spiders.

Genres: Nature, Science, Field Guides, Reference, Nonfiction, Animals, Biology

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

Reviews

[Pikaia · Rating 5 out of 5]

It saddens me how misunderstood spiders are.

I love this little book, it's rather informative about various families of spider, as well as other members of the class arachnida and even some other terrestrial arthropods. More than anything though, I love this because not only is it highly informative on the morphology, behaviour and taxonomy of spiders, but it also has some GORGEOUS illustrations. The section on the family Araneidae has some particularly wonderful illustrations of our orb-weaving arachnid friends.

Even if you're the kind of person who hates spiders and other eight-legged arthropods, you should at least read some of this, or if not, at least try and appreciate some of the lovely artwork. Maybe it will change your perception of these beautiful animals.

[Trent Marv · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third Golden Guidebook I've read recently and I must say of all the ones I've read this is the best one so far. So let us start with the positives this book's beginning is far higher quality than the other golden Guidebooks as it gives a great level of knowledge on spider anatomy and how to keep them as pets or preserve specimens as they are less hard than insects and require preservation in alcohol. The coverage of spiders is also far more in depth than they did with insects as every major group of spiders included in here, and I honestly couldn't see any major taxonomic issues when it came to spiders though one of the other groups has an issue I'll return to in a bit. It also interestingly doesn't just cover spiders, also including coverage of the other arachnid groups, like scorpions, Ticks, mites, vinegarroons, whipspiders, camel spiders, and Rinichulids. It also covers other terrestrial arthropod groups include the four groups of myriapods and some terrestrial crustaceans.
I imagine they did this because admittedly despite my love for all arthropods I don't think a field guide for each of these groups would sell well and using spiders as cover art/clickbait makes sense even if it's sad those other groups are not as appreciated. The only flaw in terms of taxonomy I noticed was with the Harvestmen. In this book they are divided into three suborders; the Cyphophthalmi aka the mite harvestmen, the Laniatores aka the armored harvestmen, and the Palpatores. It's since been recognized that Palpatores is not a natural grouping and has since been split into two suborders; the Eupnoi known as the common harvestmen and the Dyspnoi known as the Ornate Harvestmen.
Overall a wonderful book that is well worth a buy, it's not 100 percent perfect but the only major flaw is for a group most sadly don't care about and even then they still illustrate the members of both anyway so it doesn't matter really.

[Pj · Rating 5 out of 5]

What's not to like!? I love spiders and this book pointed out facts I didn't know! Spiders are very under appreciated! There is that 'fear' out there of creepy crawly things, but really is not based on the facts! Yes, a few are venomous and need to be avoided, but most are not. I fear humans more than I do spiders! Anyway, yes, the cute 'Golden Guide' nails it again. Small book with a lot of information! I've never seen the older version, but I was impressed with the revised and updated version!

[LiteraryCryptid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise guide of arachnids (spiders and other related arthropods) native to North America.

While not fully in depth in any one area, there is a diverse collection of information about identification, habitats, care (if interested in pets), and preservation of specimens. I do enjoy the confidence this book provides with the identification portion, and carry it on every comping/outdoors trip.

[Rosemary · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is so much to know about spiders. Fascinating creatures.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best general identification books on spiders. Small and compact to fit in your pocket! Many people fear spiders so start out with the fun, cute ones like jumping spiders. You can easily tell them apart from their kin. They don't spin a web, will follow your movement closely keeping you in sight all the time and they have beautiful markings. Phiddipus audax has beautiful iridescent chelicera (fangs). Check out this video of the peacock spider mating ritual. Skip to the good part at the 3:00 minute mark.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GgAby...

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my go-to guide for spiders, and can nearly always get me at least to the family. It has few enough entries that you can quickly learn what is where. it gets a little frustrating, particularly with big families like the orbweavers, because it often wont' show the one I've found, but still it usually gets me close, and the eye diagrams are very helpful.

[Ken-ichi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Golden Guides are mostly aimed at a lay audience, and many for kids, but they're all fairly awesome all the same, and this one a really fantastic introduction to the major spider families and their non-spider arachnid relatives.

[SkullCow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Spider fan here. Great info book on spiders. Found for $1 at a vintage clothes store and they let me buy it even though they claimed it was just there for decoration. They were sitting on some treasure.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

We refer to this book all the time since there's so many spiders where we live. We also come across many spiders while hiking and camping. This is pocket size so you can take it with you.

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of my favorites of these. Very interesting.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful little inexpensive book that provides drawings and information for many of the more common spiders you'll find in North America. It's one of my favorites.

[Don Gubler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good simple introduction.

[Lisa Dolliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great place to start for identification of a spider by family.

[Mark Nenadov · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great little guide, although in many cases you will have to be content to remain at a family or genus level. It does not have the detail or depth to frequently bring you to the species level.