You put just one foot wrong...

[Paul Iddon]

You put just one foot wrong...

Amaurobius sp. versus the Opilione... and there is only one winner...

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

So, Paul, is the creature on the right actually speared through its body and if so, what appendages did that?

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

The prey is an Opilione Canestrinii (European Harvestman).

It had 8 legs when caught! In the last photo most of those have gone (they can break off for defense) however, once the spider had got it's pincers in, there was no escape.

Paul.

 

[Asher Kelman]

This is real survival skills! Very brutal!

 

[Paul Iddon]

Yes, nature can be savage...

Paul

 

[Asher Kelman]

​

Paul look below the point of the empty blue text box. Is that the piecing tool of the spider showing through the tissues of its prey?

if so, what is that piercer called?

Pretty decisive instrument if that’s what it does!

Asher

 

[Paul Iddon]

The spider's primary weapon is its chelicerae, a pair of jointed jaws in front of the mouth. Each jaw has two major parts: the basal segment, the bulk of the jaw, and the sharp fang housed inside of it. When the spider catches its prey, it swings the fangs out into the animal's body. The fangs work something like hypodermic needles. When the spider pierces its prey with the fang, it squeezes out the venom, injecting the animal with enough neurotoxin to paralyze or kill. I don't think the fangs would go that far into this dinner morsel though.

Paul.

 

[Martin Ludwig]

Stunning nature documentation and extremely well executed. Kudos to you, those are flawless.

 

[Paul Iddon]

Stunning nature documentation and extremely well executed. Kudos to you, those are flawless.

Thank you Martin, much appreciated.

Paul.