# why do spiders have 8 eyes? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 22, 2001, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spiders-have-8-eyes/88822 "2001-10-22T06:34:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Niobium\_Knight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/bc8723/32.png) [@Niobium\_Knight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Niobium_Knight)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spiders-have-8-eyes/88822/1 "2001-10-22T06:34:15Z")
and how do they manage to use 8 eyes at once? does the vision join up totally into 360 degrees or do they only concentrate on a certain area at any one time? ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spiders-have-8-eyes/88822/2 "2001-10-22T08:03:38Z")
I searched [http://www.google.com](http://www.google.com) for **spiders “eight eyes”** and the first hit was this one > [@](#): > > . Most spiders aren’t known for their vision. > . . . > But a few spiders, most notably jumpers, have excellent vision. Jumping spiders have two big eyes in the center of their faces. These eyes are similar to ours. . . . The other six eyes, which are smaller and arranged in rows on the face and upper body of the spider, are used as motion detectors. > [link](http://www.boston.com/globe/search/stories/health/how_and_why/062998.htm) ---
**Author:** ![coffeecat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coffeecat/32/3405_2.png) [@coffeecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coffeecat)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2001, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-spiders-have-8-eyes/88822/3 "2001-10-22T11:02:36Z")
The better to see you with, my dear.