Fish-Eating Spiders Found All Over the World Say Scientists
Posted on June 19, 2014
Scientists report in a new study that fish-eating spiders can be found all over the world. The scientists say some larger-sized spider species supplement their diet by occasionally catching small fish. Fish-eating spiders are found on all continents except Antarctica.
The above image shows a male Ancylometes spider with a fish near Samona Lodge, Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve, Ecuador. Ancylometes spiders can stay underwater for over an hour and can spin webs in the water. The photo below shows a Dolomedes facetus capturing a pond fish in a garden pond located near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
The new spider preying on fish study was conducted by spider expert Martin Nyffeler from the University of Basel, Switzerland and Bradley Pusey from the University of Western Australia.
Spiders from as many as five different families have been observed predating on small fish in the wild. Spiders from three families have been observed catching fish under laboratory conditions. The researchers say semi-aquatic spiders have powerful neurotoxins and enzymes that enable them to kill and digest fish that are bigger and heavier than they are.
Nyffeler says in a statement, "The finding of such a large diversity of spiders engaging in fish predation is novel. Our evidence suggests that fish might be an occasional prey item of substantial nutritional importance."
The research paper was published here in the journal, PLoS One. It includes many photographic examples of spiders catching fish in different parts of the world, including North America, Australia, Africa, Asia and Europe.
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