modest , but mighty : Some jump spider can overpower and devour their larger , cold - full-blood , would - be predators , accord to scientists writing in theJournal of Arachnology .
Biologist Martin Nyffeler at the University of Basel in Switzerland spends his daylight examine arachnid andinsecteating habits . Over the last few years , he and his colleagues have made some staggering discoveries . For one , not only do spider eat up trillion oftonsof bugs each year , but they also eatfish , andbats , andplants . With a roof of the mouth this wide , a hungriness this big , and a ferocity to match , why would n’t little spiders now and then enjoin off the reptilian and amphibian menu ? The researchers adjudicate to search the scientific literature for reports of spider - on - Gaul - or - lounge lizard action .
They found plentifulness . Their hunt unearthed one sighting in Costa Rica and eight freestanding instances in seven different Florida counties , all lead up by a individual coinage . The regal jumping spider may count less than one - tenth of an oz. , but that seemingly does n’t stop it from cash in one’s chips after toad frog and modest lizards calledanoles .
One account come from local nature blogger Loret Setters , who watched a Cuban tree toad disappear into a royal jump wanderer ’s back talk .
" He was stare me down , like , ' You ’re next ! ' " SetterstoldNational Geographic . " I was completely shocked . "
This remarkable reversal of the predator - prey relationship is made possible by jumping spiders ' specialized hunting skills . Unlike most spider , which spin webs and then lie in time lag , jumping spider stalk their quarry like tigers . They have incredibly goodvisionand decenthearing , and they ’re all virulent .
Behavioral ecologist Thomas C. Jones of East Tennessee State University was not involved with the study but say spiders likely only go after frogs and lounge lizard when easier meals are scarce .
" They do tend to get bolder as they get hungrier , " he said .
[ h / tNational Geographic News ]
