Scientists Discover Vegetarian Spider

News Type: Event — Seeded on Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:53 AM EDT

Article Source: allheadlinenews.com

science, biology, animal, vegetarian, predator, spider, insect, discover, carnivore, anomaly, omnivore, arachnid

American scientists have discovers a spider that feeds almost exclusively on plant food. The findings are significant because of the known approximately 40,000 species of spiders in the world, all were thought to be strict predators.

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5.9

4.1

{"commentId":10042160,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}

JCAtom

Although roughly 90 percent of the food eaten by the spiders observed in Mexico was derived from plants, these spiders also supplemented their diets with animal food, including ant larvae.

{"commentId":10042160,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"jcatom"}

7 votes

#1 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 9:54 AM EDT

{"commentId":10056906,"authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

JoulesBeef

lol well that doesnt count.. that is just mostly veggie

{"commentId":10056906,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"JoulesBeef"}

3 votes

#1.1 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:27 PM EDT

{"commentId":10042561,"authorDomain":"dvrotolo"}

Zanyzazu

Well...so what? Many many many maaaaaaaaaany many bugs eat plants.....big Frig....what does that mean to us? Slow news day???? Go read the bombs story...that 'll wake you up.....

I got huge spiders here in Arizona that live on mice...tarantulas.....sooooooo?????

{"commentId":10042561,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"dvrotolo"}

2 votes

#2 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:16 AM EDT

{"commentId":10044267,"authorDomain":"sgreenway"}

BAjunkie

Uhh.. apparently you missed this part:

The findings are significant because of the known approximately 40,000 species of spiders in the world, all were thought to be strict predators.

{"commentId":10044267,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"sgreenway"}

7 votes

#2.1 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:30 AM EDT

{"commentId":10045560,"authorDomain":"Stuff2thinkabout"}

SC Smitty

What was even more significant was that the spiders were also seen taking protein supplements.

{"commentId":10045560,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"Stuff2thinkabout"}

6 votes

#2.2 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":10043357,"authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

Pamela Drew

So cool to find these discoveries around us and a reminder of how little we know of the Natural World.

{"commentId":10043357,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"PamelaDrew"}

5 votes

#3 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":10043990,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

wow,

is NOTHING sacred anymore????

I blame liberals for this.

;-)

{"commentId":10043990,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

5 votes

#4 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:20 AM EDT

{"commentId":10053297,"authorDomain":"v-shious"}

Zoolopolis

Must be one of those hippie vegetarian spiders from San Fran.

{"commentId":10053297,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"v-shious"}

3 votes

#4.1 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 2:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":10081689,"authorDomain":"sarain"}

Kuromi

I lol'd.

{"commentId":10081689,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"sarain"}

1 vote

#4.2 - Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:26 PM EDT

{"commentId":10087369,"authorDomain":"v-shious"}

Zoolopolis

Kuromi

I lol'd.

You're welcome.

{"commentId":10087369,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"v-shious"}

1 vote

#4.3 - Wed Oct 14, 2009 8:20 PM EDT

{"commentId":10045938,"authorDomain":"zomzom"}

Zom Zom

LIES! These spiders are trying a new version of psychological warfare. "Oh, ignore that one--they're vegetarians." Then they'll amass in your garage and yard and, once their numbers have reached sufficient levels, they'll @!$%#ing kill us all.

(Neat discovery, by the way. I'm just saying--watch your back)

{"commentId":10045938,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"zomzom"}

6 votes

#5 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:35 PM EDT

{"commentId":10047154,"authorDomain":"greglujan"}

greck

I soooo did not need one more reason to be paranoid about spiders Zom Zom,

thanks alot!

{"commentId":10047154,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"greglujan"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:53 PM EDT

{"commentId":10050362,"authorDomain":"quinnwr"}

Dubbya R

Coming soon to a theater near you!

'Vegarachniphobia!'- They hide in your garden.

{"commentId":10050362,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"quinnwr"}

4 votes

#5.2 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:32 PM EDT

{"commentId":10046463,"authorDomain":"zed7"}

zed7

this is interesting but

The goliath spider in guyana in south america eat's birds O_O.

lol.

{"commentId":10046463,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"zed7"}

2 votes

#6 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 12:44 PM EDT

{"commentId":10058163,"authorDomain":"wayndor"}

Bibi-1186846

This was interesting to me. I thought ALL spiders were carnivorous stealthy, hunters. I wonder what made 'em start eating vegetation?

Thanks for the info, JCATOM.

{"commentId":10058163,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"wayndor"}

2 votes

#7 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:51 PM EDT

{"commentId":10066611,"authorDomain":"depantzd"}

Publius ReduxDeleted

{"commentId":10058496,"authorDomain":"dvrotolo"}

Zanyzazu

Ya gotta love a good veg spider story! OK I will play....this giant spider from Toledo came into my yard...in Arizona...and I asked..have a nice trip...and it said...yeah so far ..but I am looking for a guy named ....JCATOM...I hear he is writing stories about me...I go...ahhh whats the beef...and he said well....no beef really....see that's the problem...I have eaten all of Ohio...and ate my way here...and I need protien bad...and I figure ....get him....he sounds juicy. I said ...well he is ....I just added him to my friend list at his request...quite an honor I must say...I mean anyone who writes posts about veggie eatin spiders is all right in my book...and I would tell you where to find him...but like I said....I just met the guy...and well I am now his new friend ...and I cant rat on a pal....so ...I am afraid ...if you dont leave I will have to call someone...and well...as you can see in Sedona and surrounding areas we just got these red rocks...and we dont play when it comes to our tourist traps....so you got California ...or south to Mexico...and I tell ya ..there aint no body home there...they are all here....so best you turn around quick and hit old 66 through Flagstaff...turn south...and go to Florida....pretty green there.

Whew that was close ...I have been told I would be eaten in my day...but not like this boy intended...!!!!!!! He was hongerin for protien....and well...as you can see......ahhh aint no turnip.......well no that ain't zakly true...I fell off a truck one day and here I am ......livin as a cactus...in Arizona.........but inside ...I am still a turnip.....just smarter now.......you dont see me in any steam tent now do ya ??????????

Thats my story...and I am stickin to it!

{"commentId":10058496,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"dvrotolo"}

1 vote

#8 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 3:57 PM EDT

{"commentId":10068007,"authorDomain":"jcatom"}

JCAtom

Always wondered what went through the mind of a spider...now I know...at least how this one thinks. Sounds like it got overheated in one of those peyote rituals and now vegges out in a cactus-shaped trailer parked somewhere in AZ. Thanks Zanyzazu for not telling it where I am.

{"commentId":10068007,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"jcatom"}

1 vote

#8.1 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:23 PM EDT

{"commentId":10068796,"authorDomain":"Books83"}

Books83

From what I read these spiders shoudn't be able to handle the high fiber content found in their food sources. It would be amazing to figure out how they manage it.

{"commentId":10068796,"threadId":"700266","contentId":"3377323","authorDomain":"Books83"}

1 vote

#9 - Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:53 PM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"700266","isPrivate":false}

First 'mainly vegetarian' spider described	EurekAlert!	Tue Oct 13	2
Rare Vegetarian Spider Discovered	Live Science	Tue Oct 13	1
'Veggie' spider shuns meat diet	BBC News	Tue Oct 13	2

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