Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Divy on 01/10/2011 06:01:02

Title: How do spiders eat their prey?
Post by: Divy on 01/10/2011 06:01:02

Divy asked the Naked Scientists:
   
How do spiders eat their prey?

What do you think?

Title: How do spiders eat their prey?
Post by: Kryptid on 01/10/2011 22:13:51

Spiders can only eat food in liquid form. Once a spider has caught its prey and pierced its exoskeleton, it can suck the juices from inside with its mouth oriface. Take note that they don't use their fangs like syringes to suck out the fluid; the fangs are designed to inject venom to either paralyze or kill the prey item which then allows the spider to feed. A spider might also use enzymes to help break down more solid parts of a prey item for more efficient digestion. Some species help this process further by grinding solid parts into finer bits with their mouthparts (not quite like a human chews their food, but the result is similar).