Which Spiders Have Fangs?
WouterSpiders are carnivores, and their diet consists of insects and larger animals. They use fangs for injecting venom into the prey. The venom breaks down the tissue of the target animal, making it liquid.
Spider fangs are hollow and sharp, and they have a small entry hole at the tip. They are also similar to hypodermic needles. They are designed to penetrate the skeleton of invertebrate shells and to inject venom. They have an internal structure like a straw, and their hollow interior makes them perfect for piercing prey.
The fangs are composed of proteins and chitin. Chitin is a carbohydrate molecule found in many insects. It has a stiffness per unit volume, and its fibres are stiffer in the mid-section of the fang. The chitin is arranged in a matrix with proteins, and the distribution of these elements varies in different parts of the fang. The resulting combination of a complex, slender structure with high strain direction gives spiders the ability to bite through tough materials and pierce through cuticular armour.
Compared to the teeth of other insects, spider fangs have a conical shape, which gives them optimal stiffness per unit volume. They also have a hollow duct inside, which leads to the venom gland. They are also resistant to deformation, which allows them to hold their prey in place.
There are two main types of spiders: Mygalomorphs and Araneomorphs. Mygalomorphs are the primitive types, and their chelicerae are reduced to two jointed jaws in front of the mouth. Araneomorphs, on the other hand, have more diverse structures. They include jumping spiders and Orb-Weavers.
