Spiders - The Different Colours And The Reasons For Them

The right colour and pattern is essential to the survival of a spider, allowing it to both capture prey and avoid predators. Colour is produced by pigments underneath the spider's hard outer "cuticle" (skin) and their brightness is in part determined by the presence of a substance called "sclerotin", which is used to strengthen the cuticle. Areas where strength is required and sclerotin is abundant, such as the chelicerae, tend to be dark. Areas requiring more flexibility, such as the joints, tend to be paler. In addition to these pigments,