How many legs do arachnids have?

Arachnids have eight legs. This is one of the defining features of the group, which includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, harvestmen, and several less familiar orders.

Their legs attach to the prosoma, the front part of the body. Arachnids also typically have a pair of appendages called pedipalps near the mouth, but these are not counted as walking legs. In scorpions, for example, the pedipalps form the large pincers.

Arachnids are not insects, despite sometimes being confused with them. Adult insects have six legs and three main body regions, while arachnids usually have eight legs and two major body regions. Spiders may appear to have more than eight limbs because their pedipalps are conspicuous, but only four pairs are true legs.

The rule has exceptions in appearance: some mites and ticks have fewer than eight legs during early life stages, and certain arachnids have modified or reduced limbs. Nevertheless, eight legs is the standard adult arachnid condition and the fair quiz answer.