How does a spider eat a rat? - briefly
The spider injects potent digestive enzymes into the rat, breaking down the flesh into a liquid that it then sucks into its gut through its mouthparts. The empty carcass, reduced to a husk, is left behind.
How does a spider eat a rat? - in detail
Spiders that are capable of subduing a rodent rely on a sequence of specialized behaviors and physiological mechanisms.
First, the spider detects the prey through vibrations and chemical cues. When a rat enters the web or is seized by the spider’s ambush, the predator positions its chelicerae around the animal’s neck or limbs to prevent escape.
Second, the spider injects venom via its fangs. The venom contains neurotoxins that rapidly paralyze the vertebrate, and proteolytic enzymes that begin breaking down tissues. The paralysis eliminates the rat’s defensive movements, while the enzymes start the external digestion process.
Third, the spider releases additional digestive fluids onto the immobilized carcass. These fluids contain a mixture of proteases, lipases, and nucleases that liquefy muscle, fat, and organ tissue. The spider does not ingest solid matter; instead, it draws the resulting nutrient‑rich slurry through the mouth opening, which functions as a suction pump.
Fourth, the ingested fluid passes into the midgut, where further enzymatic breakdown occurs. Nutrients are absorbed across the gut epithelium into the hemolymph, supplying the spider with protein, lipids, and carbohydrates necessary for growth and reproduction.
Finally, the exoskeleton and indigestible fragments are discarded as a compact, dry mass. The spider often wraps the remnants in silk to keep the feeding site clean and to protect the area from scavengers.
Key points of the feeding process:
- Detection of prey via sensory hairs and chemoreception.
- Immobilization through precise fang placement and venom injection.
- External digestion using a cocktail of enzymes.
- Suction of liquefied tissue into the digestive tract.
- Absorption of nutrients and disposal of residual chitinous material.
The entire sequence can take several hours, depending on the size of the rodent and the spider’s species, but the physiological steps remain consistent across large arachnids capable of tackling vertebrate prey.