Arachnids at the Edge: View and Perspectives, with Emphasis on Spiders and Scorpions

Abstract

Arachnids are a diverse group of arthropods, represented by well-known organisms like s piders, with 51,164 species described to date, and scorpions, with 2761 known species. These animals inhabit various regions worldwide and are highly diverse in Neotropical environments, where their ecological function is essential. In this chapter, we review the state of Arachnids’ decline and the factorscontributing to this pattern in the Neotropics. These factors include their relationships with prey, human perception, and its consequences, and the direct threats posed by human-induced changes in land use or illegal animal trafficking. Finally, we discuss prospects for this group in the context of biodiversity decline. The future of arachnids is uncertain in a changing world; however, we need morestudies in the context of decreasing biodiversity, encompassing all arachnid orders, which can be used to build up conservation policies and laws against the illegal trafficking of these organisms. We hope that this chapter will serve as a starting point to change the uncertain future of this group of arthropods in a rapidly changing world.