[fordgtlover]

...because the spiders are eating them.

Here is a set of photos taken in Cairns (Northern Queensland) recently. The snake is 14cm (5 1/2 inches).

The spider is a Red Back, which is the equivalent of the Black Widow in the US.

Source: Spider eats snake - Local News - Cairns, QLD, Australia

 

[SR-71Panorama]

naough thats a spidey!

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Okay... Interesting. I'm going to spray the cracks of my doors and windows tomorrow morning.

 

[Gatto]

oh wow that is crazy!

 

[silencewithin]

That ain't a redback.
I saw this in the news a few weeks back. Apparently it ended up in some museum according to that article. I'm not sure where that spider is from (Africa? maybe South Africa iirc) but it isn't Australia.

You know redbacks have the red on their back!

plus it doesn't look like a redback, different shaped abdomen. Dozens of redbacks around my place, see them every day.

Why be scared of them? Like so many other creatures spiders are misunderstood.
And I've had redbacks in my hands and never been bitten, they are timid. Don't do this people, obviously.

Cairns local news... So Australian, to cling to anything even remotely feasible as news worthy

here we go: Snake Caught in Spider's Web Photographs

 

[tjumper78]

i thought a preying mantis eating a bird was crazy.... until i saw this..

 

[silencewithin]

Not to hate on the redbacks: Lizard in a web Image:Redbackwithlizard2.JPG - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[ZephyrSapphire]

Goliath birdeater - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Sherwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silencewithin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Why be scared of them? Like so many other creatures spiders are misunderstood.

There has not been a single Australian death attributable to spider bites in the last 30 years.

Nonetheless, I have no love for spiders, and these pictures don't exactly warm my heart.

 

[krmathis]

Great to know!

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Oh damn!

 

[silencewithin]

Coincidentally...

This time the publication is more reliable though.
Mammoth backyard spider devours bird
This beats the snake hands down I reckon!

Cairns can rejoice.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

Quote:

Originally Posted by silencewithin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Coincidentally... This time the publication is more reliable though. Mammoth backyard spider devours bird This beats the snake hands down I reckon! Cairns can rejoice.

[size=xx-large]HOLY BOVINE!!!!!!!![/size]

If I ever visit Australia (Travel Abroad program?), I hope you guys sell Desert Eagles (and ammo) like candy at every corner store.

 

[elliot42]

Wow... Golden Orbs really freak me out, but I'm glad that they don't get that big here in Sydney. Their webs are REALLY strong and sticky and they love to build them overhead between trees along footpaths, and sometimes at head-height. I hate them a lot.

Redbacks are fine, they're timid and you rarely see them, only if you disturb their nest which is usually in dark places like empty flower pots and under the deck. And they won't kill you, may make you mildly ill if bitten but that's it.

Sydney Funnel Webs, on the other hand, can kill if they bite you, but luckily I have seen them only a few times ever.

 

[Edwood]

Holy Crap. My wife is really afraid of spiders. That pic will really scare her from ever visiting Australia.