Do Spiders Have Teeth?

Spiders do not have teeth. Rather, they eat their prey by sucking in liquids and then digesting it. They also use a salivary gland and fangs to inject venom into their victims. Some species mush their prey after they have digested it.

The mouth of a spider is shaped like a straw. A hypopharynx, located on the floor of the mouth, facilitates the movement of food from the mouth to the body. This is similar to the tongue in humans.

The fangs are hollow, and are attached to the venom glands. Despite their hollow design, they are exceptionally strong. As a result, they are a highly effective killing tool.

Unlike human teeth, which are made of bone, spider fangs are fabricated from tough material. However, this is not a guarantee that they will function as well as they should. Depending on the type of spider, they may have a smaller or larger set. Regardless, they are still able to clamp onto and sting their prey.

Spiders also have two chelicerae. These are essentially jaws, and they are used to chomp and puncture the skin of their prey. Chelicerae are also armed with taste-sensitive hairs. In some cases, these are used to detect whether the prey is edible or not.

Before the advent of the venom system, spiders ate their prey by biting, sucking, and swallowing. Since their creation, however, spiders have adapted to the newer, better way of eating.

Instead of teeth, spiders use their limbs and jaws to chomp and suck their prey. Venom is then injected into the victim, breaking down the cells and muscle tissue.