SCIENCE

Spiders Like You’ve Never Seen Them Before (Photos)

In honor of Save a Spider Day, we’ve picked the best photo contest submissions that showcase the beauty of spiders across the globe

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Take a look at these beautiful close-ups, and read why we should all celebrate Save a Spider Day.

Photo above: A spider seeks shelter from the rain.
Photo and caption by Derek Slevin (Escondido, CA). Derek Slevin (Escondido, CA)
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Close-up with a jumping spider.
Photo by Thomas Vignaud (Marseille, France). Thomas Vignaud (Marseille, France)
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A tiny jumping spider on a pink rhododendron.
Photo and caption by Amadee Ricketts (Durango, CO). Amadee Ricketts (Durango, CO)
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Death match for one square inch of territory.
Photo and caption by Ang Ronnie (Singapore). Ang Ronnie (Singapore)
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A mushroom provides a lookout for a jumping spider.
Photo by Andrey Antov (Oxford, CT). Andrey Antov (Oxford, CT)
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A male Phidippus insignarius jumping spider performing his courtship display for a female.

Photo and caption by Colin Hutton (Durham, NC). Colin Hutton (Durham, NC)
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Spiny orb weaver spiders hanging on a web.
Photo by Jessie Knott (Pensacola, Fl). Jessie Knott (Pensacola, Fl)
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A spider with its prey on a flower.
Photo and caption by Thomas Vignaud (Marseille, France). Thomas Vignaud (Marseille, France)
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A jumping spider on the bottom of a log.
Photo and caption by Scott Trageser. Scott Trageser
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A Phidippus Audax jumping spider sitting on a green leaf on a North Carolina porch.
Photo and caption by Mickey Moten (Kings Mountain, NC). Mickey Moten (Kings Mountain, NC)
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Jumping spider makes eye contact.

Photo by Cory Wong (Granada Hills, CA). Cory Wong (Granada Hills, CA)
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A green spider (Araniella cucurbitina) spins its web between two trees.
Photo and caption by Gonzalo Acuña (Montevideo, Uruguay). Gonzalo Acuña (Montevideo, Uraguay)
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A piece of lint perfectly balanced on the head of a jumping spider.
Photo and caption by Mayu Morita (Esparto, CA). Mayu Morita (Esparto, CA)
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Hopping a ride on the hood of a car.
Photo by Matthew Baker (Lorida, Fl). Matthew Baker (Lorida, Fl)
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A Golden Orb spider on its web in a palm tree.
Photo by Myrthon Joselito M. Magno (Quezon City, Philippines). Myrthon Joselito M. Magno (Quezon City, Philippines)