Arachnology - MB170P05

• Title: Arachnology
• Czech title: Arachnologie
• Guaranteed by: Department of Zoology (31-170)
• Faculty: Faculty of Science
• Actual: from 2025
• Semester: summer
• E-Credits: 4
• Examination process: summer s.:
• Hours per week, examination: summer s.:2/1, C+Ex [HT]
• Extent per academic year: 1 [days]
• Capacity: 21
• Min. number of students: 5
• 4EU+: no
• Virtual mobility / capacity: no
• State of the course: taught
• Language: English
• Note: enabled for web enrollment
• Guarantor: RNDr. Věra Opatová, Ph.D.
• Teacher(s): RNDr. Petr Dolejš, Ph.D.; RNDr. Jan Mourek, Ph.D.; RNDr. Věra Opatová, Ph.D.; RNDr. František Šťáhlavský, Ph.D.

Annotation

English

The course provides an overview of Arachnid orders (both fossil and extant), their evolution, biogeography and systematics. It focuses in detail on morphological, ecological and ethological characterization of each group. Hand-on lab sessions are dedicated to topics/taxa covered in the preceding theoretical lectures.
The course is given in English.

Last update: Opatová Věra, RNDr., Ph.D. (17.02.2025)

Literature

English

Foelix R. F. 1996. Biology of Spiders. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Polis G.A. 1990: The Biology of Scorpions. Stanford University Press. Stanford.

Weygoldt, P. 1969. The Biology of Pseudoscorpions. Harvard Univ. Press.

Pinto-da-Rocha R., Machado G. & Giribet, G. 2007. Harversmen: The Bilogy of Opiliones. Harvard Univ. Press.

Kůrka A., Řezáč M., Macek R. & Dolanský J. 2015: Spiders of The Czech Republic. Academia, Praha.

Last update: Opatová Věra, RNDr., Ph.D. (23.01.2023)

Czech

Buchar J. & Kůrka A. 1998. Naši pavouci. Academia, Praha.

Foelix R. F. 1996. Biology of Spiders. Oxford University Press. Oxford.

Polis G.A. 1990: The Biology of Scorpions. Stanford University Press. Stanford.

Weygoldt, P. 1969. The Biology of Pseudoscorpions. Harvard Univ. Press.

Pinto-da-Rocha R., Machado G. & Giribet, G. 2007. Harversmen: The Bilogy of Opiliones. Harvard Univ. Press.

Kůrka A., Řezáč M., Macek R. & Dolanský J. 2015: Pavouci České republiky. Academia, Praha.

Last update: Opatová Věra, RNDr., Ph.D. (23.01.2023)

Requirements to the exam

The requirements:

Credit: active participation in the laboratory practices with 80% attendance

Exam: oral examcomprises two parts:

1) Identification and characterization of taxa covered in hands-on lab sessions (3 randomly selected taxa). Spiders an harvestmen need to be identified to family, remaining taxa: order-level

2) general topics (two questions)

Last update: Opatová Věra, RNDr., Ph.D. (18.02.2025)

Syllabus

2026 Lectures & Labs schedule:
18. 2. Introduction to Chelicerata, Scorpiones (F. Šťáhlavský)
25.2. Introduction to spiders: anatomy & morphology (V. Opatová)
4.3. Mesothele, Mygalomorphae, Filistatidae, Hypochilidae (V. Opatová)
11.3. Synspermiata -> Palpimanoidea, UDOH grade (V. Opatová)
18.3. RTA clade excluding Oval Calamistrum clade (V. Opatová)
25.3. Oval Calamistrum clade + bioindication (P. Dolejš)
1.4. Eresidae, Araneioidea I (V. Opatová)
8.4. Araneioidea II (V. Opatová)
15.4. Opiliones (P. Dolejš)
22.4. Spider ID session (V. Opatová + P. Dolejš)
29.4. Pseudoscorpiones + small arachnid orders (F. Šťáhlavský)
6.5. Parasitiformes (J. Mourek)
13.5. Acariformes (J. Mourek)

The lectures are followed by practical hands-on labs. Personal participation in the labs is mandatory (absense from a maximum of two lab sessions is tolerated). An absence may be supplemented by independent work following prior agreement with the relevant lecturer.

Excursion: 1 day, voluntary. The date will be decided towards the end of the semester, typically it takes place the first week of June (weather pending).

Last update: Opatová Věra, RNDr., Ph.D. (25.02.2026)

Learning outcomes

Learning Outcomes – Arachnology
After completing the course, students will be able to:

Identify and classify all arachnid orders and describe their external morphology, anatomy, and key diagnostic features.

Compare functional adaptations such as venom apparatus, silk production, sensory structures, respiratory systems, and locomotory mechanisms across different arachnid taxa.

Identify and describe the external morphology and key diagnostic characteristics of the majority of spider families present in Europe, as well as selected families of scorpions, pseudoscorpions, harvestmen, and ticks and mites. 

Explain evolutionary relationships of arachnids based on current scientific knowledge.

Analyze ecological roles, behavior, and life histories of arachnids in various habitats.

Apply critical thinking to relate morphological and behavioral traits to ecological and evolutionary processes.

Gain confidence and practical skills needed to examine specimens and identify them with a taxonomic literature and web identification keys. 

Develop observation and collecting skills in the field (if voluntary excursion is attended).

Last update: Opatová Věra, RNDr., Ph.D. (31.12.2025)