How Many Teeth Do Spiders Have? Facts About Spider Fangs and Mouthparts

Unraveling the Mystery of Spider Teeth

Spiders are fascinating yet often misunderstood creatures. Many people wonder - do spiders even have teeth? The answer is yes, though not in the way we typically think of teeth. Read on to learn all about the unique oral anatomy of spiders and how they use their specialized mouthparts.

Spider Mouthpart anatomy

All spiders have mouthparts located underneath their heads called chelicerae. Each chelicera contains a fang-like structure used to inject venom into prey. The tips of the chelicerae house the spider's teeth, which align together to form the cheliceral fangs.

Instead of enamel like human teeth, spider teeth are composed of thickened chitin formed into sharp points. These pointed teeth interlock together to allow spiders to grasp, crush, and slice prey. The chelicerae and fangs are powered by strong muscles that enable spiders to bite with a significant amount of force.

Types of Spider Teeth

While all spiders have chelicerae and fangs, the arrangement and shapes of their teeth can vary:

Conical teeth - Pointed and cone-shaped. Allow spiders to pierce and grip prey.

Serrated teeth - Jagged, saw-like edges. Help tear soft-bodied insects apart.

Blunt teeth - Rounded tips. Used to crush hard-shelled insects like beetles.

Venomous spiders like black widows tend to have longer, sharper and more needle-like fang teeth to inject their toxic venom deep into prey. Non-venomous spiders have shorter teeth better suited for crushing and grinding food.

How Many Teeth Do Spiders Have?

All spiders have two sets of fang teeth, one on the tip of each chelicera. Some species may have just a single pointed fang tooth on each side. Other spiders like tarantulas have impressive arrays of 4-6 interlocking teeth on each fang!

In addition to their fang teeth, some spiders also have smaller secondary teeth lining the chelicerae. These additional teeth can further grip and shred food.

So in total, most spiders have between 4-12 or more functional teeth that they rely on to capture, kill, and digest insect prey.

Teeth Arrangements in Different Spider Groups

Let's take a closer look at some common spider groups and their trademark tooth formations:

Tarantulas

Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders of the Theraphosidae family. Their size allows them to subdue large prey like frogs, lizards, and even birds. To handle such formidable food, tarantulas need powerful fangs lined with multiple teeth - usually 4-6 on each side.

Wolf Spiders

Wolf spiders have large chelicerae and fangs suited for impaling and crushing hard-bodied insects. The ends of their fangs have a dual pincer-like arrangement of conical teeth. Their smaller secondary teeth toward the base of each chelicera further shred prey.

Jumping Spiders

Jumping spiders have some of the best vision among spiders and actively hunt prey. They have short chelicerae with small singular fang teeth that release venom to subdue insects. Tiny scissor-like chelicerae underneath help cut up food.

Trapdoor Spiders

These ambush predators have elongated chelicerae and fangs with sharp inner teeth. This allows trapdoor spiders to strike fast and pierce the armor of passing prey from their underground burrows.

Black Widows

Black widow spiders have very large venom glands that necessitate longer chelicerae and fangs to deliver potent neurotoxic venom. Their elongate fang tips have sharp conical teeth to penetrate deeply into prey.

Teeth Function by Species

Different spider species have evolved distinct teeth structure and arrangements based on their dietary needs including:

Web-building spiders

Orb weavers, funnel web spiders and others with adhesive webs often have serrated fang teeth. The jagged edges help tear through trapped insects' wings, limbs and exoskeletons.

Ground spiders

Ground-dwelling spiders like wolf spiders tend to have stouter chelicerae and blunt fangs. These help crush hard-bodied beetles, ants, and other prey commonly found on the ground.

Spider-eating spiders

Spiders with a taste for other spiders need sharper, elongated fangs to penetrate the silk-wrapped prey common to webbed spiders. Long pinchers further help handle struggling spider meals.

Teeth Strength

Spider fangs and teeth are exceptionally strong considering their small size. Researchers have estimated that the bite force of a large tarantula equals almost twice the spider's body weight! Smaller spiders also pack an impressive punch.

Scientists measure spider bite forces in units called Newtons. Here are estimated bite forces for a few common spiders:

• Wolf spider - 30 Newtons
• Hobo spider - 80 Newtons
• Fishing spider - 152 Newtons
• Tarantula - over 200 Newtons

This tremendous bite strength allows spiders to swiftly puncture tough prey exoskeletons and deliver venom. The pressure also lets them crush sturdy shells and bodies.

Male vs Female Spider Teeth

Male and female spiders have the same types of fangs and teeth. However, females tend to have more robust chelicerae and fangs than males of the same species. Since females are responsible for capturing prey to nourish their young, stronger mouthparts give them an advantage.

The fangs of male spiders are still suitably equipped to subdue small insects and perform courtship rituals. But females need added bite force and reinforced teeth to take down larger, tougher prey.

Teeth Through Life Stages

Baby spiders emerge from eggs with partially developed chelicerae and small but functional fangs. As spiders mature through various instars or molts, their fangs and teeth increase in size and become fully hardened by adulthood.

Fang tips have to periodically repair damage from penetrating tough prey. Spiders rebuild and sharpen their fangs and teeth with each successive molt throughout their lives.

fossil records

Spider mouthparts evolved to their current anatomy over hundreds of millions of years. Fortunately, well-preserved fossils provide clues into their origins:

• 300 million years ago - Early spiders had short chelicerae with dual fangs.
• 200 million years ago - Longer chelicerae and tooth-like serrations first appeared.
• 100 million years ago - Ancestors of modern spiders emerged with full cheliceral fangs.

This gradual evolution produced the incredible fangs and tooth formations spiders possess today.

Spider Bites and Teeth Dangers

For humans, encounters with spider fangs and teeth are painful at best and potentially medically dangerous at worst. Let's examine how spider bites can impact people and pets:

Mechanical Damage

All spiders can bite, even those without venom glands. The sharp fang teeth penetrate skin and cause a wound similar to a needle stick or puncture wound. Teeth may also tear surrounding tissue as spiders attempt to free their fangs.

Venom Effects

Venomous spiders like black widows inject toxins that can cause pain, muscle cramps, vomiting, sweating and other symptoms. Rare cases may induce paralysis or life-threatening reactions.

Infection Risk

Breaks in skin from fangs provide openings for bacteria to enter and cause infections. Signs include increasing pain, swelling, redness and pus around the bite.

Allergic Reactions

Venom components may trigger allergic reactions, especially in sensitive individuals. Seek immediate medical care for symptoms like rash, hives, itching, swelling, chest tightness, trouble breathing.

While unpleasant and alarming, most spider bites do not cause serious harm with proper wound care and medication. But it's wise to give all spiders their space and avoid handling them.

Fascinating Adaptations

Spider fangs and teeth have many fascinating evolutionary adaptations that help them thrive as predators:

Flexibility

Their chelicerae have wide ranges of motion, allowing spiders to bite in almost any direction with great accuracy.

Articulation

Some spiders can splay their fangs apart to spear and grip large prey items between the tooth points.

Venom Optimization

Different venoms cause pain, paralysis, tissue destruction or other effects based on each species' needs to subdue prey.

Size Variation

Fangs and teeth range from barely visible in tiny spiders to impressive lengths over 1 inch long in large tarantulas.

Stealth

Compared to mouths, spider fangs and teeth are exceptionally quiet when striking. This allows ambush predators to attack successfully.

While creepy-looking to many, spider mouths are truly marvels of nature's engineering over hundreds of millions of years of evolution.

Caring for Spider Teeth

For captive spiders like tarantulas kept as pets, good fang and teeth hygiene is important for feeding and defense. Here are some tooth care tips:

Monitor wear

Inspect fangs periodically for chips and blunting from prey items. This is especially important after molts when fangs are still soft.

Remove food debris

Clean fangs gently with a soft brush to remove insect bits that may obstruct strikes or venom flow.

Facilitate shedding

Increase humidity before molts and provide rough surfaces to help fangs shed cleanly and fully.

Supplement prey

Dust feeder insects with calcium powder to harden fangs. Avoid live prey that may bite or scratch fangs.

With attentive care, captive spiders can enjoy long lives and make full use of their impressive fangs and teeth.

Key Takeaways

Spiders may not have mouths full of teeth like humans, but they do in fact have specialized structures called chelicerae lined with fangs and sharp points that function as teeth. While all spiders have fangs, their number, size, and shape vary by species based on dietary needs. Fossil records show fangs and teeth evolving over hundreds of millions of years into the diversity seen today. While intimidating, spider fangs help make them successful predators.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.