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Glite Dictionary
🕷️ A weaving myth 🕸️ Old spider name 🧶 A skilled weaver
Arachne

Arachne

1 9.9
An old scientific name once given to some spiders that is no longer used
  • proper noun
  • Archaic
translation icon : Arachne
  • The spider genus Arachne includes several species found in Europe.

Examples

  • In zoology, Arachne is often replaced by newer classifications.

  • Taxonomists no longer use Arachne as a valid genus for classifying spiders.

  • The label Arachne can still be found on some old spider specimens in natural history museums.

  • Historical records refer to several species under the genus Arachne before reclassification.

  • The ancient Greeks told the story of Arachne, a talented weaver who was transformed into a spider.

  • Many scientists now study spiders that were once classified under the genus Arachne.

  • In her research, she discovered that several spider species belong to the former scientific genus Arachne.

Surface Forms

Arachne main

Etymology

Arachne was once used as a scientific name for a group of 'spiders' because the Greek word means 'spider'. Scientists now use different names, so you will often only see Arachne on older labels in museums.