How do Predators Catch Food?

When it comes to animals who’s diet includes or consists of other animals, (be they insects, herbivores, or even its own kind!), there’s many elaborate and diverse ways for an animal to catch food, including traps, speed, and stealth!

Webs

• Spiders can produce silk from glands located at the tip of their abdomen
• These webs are very sticky and trap insects in them
• While not all spiders use their web as traps, the ones that do save a lot of energy by not having to actively chase their prey

Aggressive Mimicry

• Dangerous animals can pretend to be a harmless or tasty animal in order to lure their prey
• Snapping Turtles have a long tongue that can resemble a worm , tricking fish into entering their strong jaws
• Angler Fish have a bright fleshy growth projecting from their head that can be wiggled to attract other curious fish

Ambush Hunters

• In order to save energy, many predators such as crocodiles and most large snakes will remain motionless and wait for their prey to come to them
• Many of these predators use camouflage to prevent detection from their prey

Active Hunting

• This is the form of hunting most people are familiar with, predators will search out prey using their senses such as smell, sound or sight
• Some animals hunt alone (like pumas and other big cats) and will stalk to their prey before going after them
• Many animals (like wolves and hyenas) hunt in packs and work together to take down their prey