In a David and Goliath - style clang between two of Australia ’s most virulent beasties , a redback spider rose rejoicing over a much largereastern brownish snake in the grass – a critter that can kill a human in just a few hours . If you ’re small , being equipped with a mighty dose of spitefulness can number in pretty ready to hand .
The bizarre scene , which will haunt the dreams of arachnophobes and ophiophobes alike , was captured on camera by Robyn McLennan at a vineyard in Victoria . She then send her photos to the Field natural scientist Club of Victoriaon Facebook .
“ Her eyes are definitely giving than her belly ! ” one member commented .
“ Now THAT ’S an ambitious redback ! ! ” wrote another .
After originally posting her photos , Robyn sum an update : “ The spider has now brought the entire snake off the ground and it is suspended mid - air , just under the lower sass of the tank . ” Yikes .
funnily enough , redbacks taking on snakesisn’t all that uncommon .
Female redback spiders are larger than males , growing to around 1 centimeter ( 0.4 inches ) in length ( legs not include ) . They are black with a characteristic Marxist or orange stripe across their back , while the midget males are light chocolate-brown with white or yellow markings . Only the females are able ofbiting humans , as the Male ’ fangs ca n’t break through the hide . Although a bite can be very painful and cause symptoms like nausea and sweating , it is rarely serious . However , for nipper and pregnant woman , it can be life - threating .
Therefore , it ’s perhaps not all that surprising that a female redback can kill a ophidian , particularly a immature snake like the one in the picture , which would have been more susceptible to the wanderer ’s venom than an grownup .
In addition to their toxic spite , redbacks , as well as other member of the genus to which they belong , spin impressively stiff and glutinous World Wide Web to entrap their quarry . The satiny threads are cut across in tiny crack - sticky droplets of mucilage that the spider secretes via a gland .
While the fact it killed the Hydra might be gruesome enough , you might also be wondering how a little redback spider might go about devouring its overpoweringly large prey . Through biting , the wanderer injects digestive enzyme that relegate down the Snake River ’s body tissues entrust a delicious soup for it to wipe out . Full - up on snake juice , the wanderer can then go workweek without eating .
If you want to see aspider vs snake battlein action , check out this video take in 2017 of a sneaky redback ambush a wrestle snake .
