Spiders That Eat Snakes
WouterWhen we think of snakes, we usually imagine a venomous beast that can kill us. However, there are actually a number of different types of animals that eat snakes. They are commonly known as ophiophagy and are a part of the natural world.
There are numerous types of spiders that can eat snakes. In fact, they have been documented on all seven continents, with the exception of Antarctica. One of the most famous spiders to eat snakes is the black widow. These spiders have an extremely powerful venom that targets the nervous system of vertebrates. It’s a deadly bite that can hurt humans, but it also kills birds and small mammals.
Spiders can ensnare a snake many times its size. This is known as intraguild predation, which affects the balance of the food web. The spiders eat the snake’s soft body parts. Depending on the type of spider, it takes a few days to finish the meal.
Spiders that eat snakes have been found in North America, Australia, and Europe. Almost half of the incidents reported happened in the United States. Most of the other incidents occurred in Australia.
Black widow spiders are the most successful at eating snakes. Their webs are built from tough silk. They can ensnare prey many times its size and then deliver a lethal toxin.
A University of Basel study showed that spiders from eleven different spider families can eat snakes. The study analyzed over 300 reports of snake-eating spiders. Typically, these spiders feed on insects and frogs, but they can ensnare and immobilize snakes as big as 30 times their own size.
