Australia's reputation for terrifying wildlife just got another notch on its belt. While most spiders stick to a diet of flies and mosquitoes, the Australian redback spider has far more ambitious dining plans. These tiny arachnids—about the size of an M&M—regularly trap, kill, and devour snakes that are 50 times their own size.

And we're not talking about harmless garden snakes. Redbacks have been documented eating juvenile eastern brown snakes, which happen to be among the most venomous serpents on Earth. The spider that could fit in a bottle cap is casually munching on a creature that could kill a human with a single bite.

How Does a Spider Eat a Snake?

The attack follows a brutal but effective pattern. First, an unlucky snake slithers into the redback's web—usually strung low to the ground near rocks, logs, or outbuildings. The moment the snake touches the sticky silk, it's game over.

The redback immediately springs into action, racing across its web to wrap the struggling snake in more layers of silk. Once the victim is sufficiently immobilized, the spider delivers a venomous bite. The venom doesn't just paralyze—it liquefies the snake's internal organs. The redback then settles in for a meal that can last several days, essentially drinking its supersized prey from the inside out.

Not Just Redbacks

While redback spiders are the celebrity snake-eaters of Australia, they're not alone in this behavior. Scientists have identified at least 11 different spider families worldwide that prey on snakes, though widow spiders (the family redbacks belong to) are particularly skilled at it.

Black widows in North America have been observed taking down garter snakes and other small serpents. Tarantulas occasionally snack on snakes too. But the redback's combination of potent venom, strategic web placement, and sheer audacity makes it the most notorious of the bunch.

Size Doesn't Matter (To Spiders)

What makes this phenomenon so remarkable is the absurd size difference. Imagine a house cat successfully hunting and eating an elephant—that's roughly the scale we're talking about here. Female redback spiders typically measure just 10mm in body length, while the snakes they capture can exceed 50cm.

The secret weapon? Chemistry. Redback venom contains a neurotoxin called alpha-latrotoxin, which causes massive release of neurotransmitters in the victim's nervous system. For the snake, this means paralysis, pain, and eventually death. For the spider, it means dinner is served.

Where This Happens

These spider-versus-snake battles aren't rare occurrences in remote wilderness areas. Redbacks are common in urban and suburban Australia, often living in:

Garden sheds and garages
Outdoor furniture
Woodpiles and rockeries
Around the edges of buildings
Under playground equipment

So if you're visiting Australia and see a small black spider with a distinctive red stripe on its back, show some respect. You're looking at one of nature's most audacious predators—a creature that treats venomous snakes like takeout.

The takeaway? Australia isn't just a place where everything is trying to kill you. It's a place where the small things are killing the things that are trying to kill you. Which somehow makes it even more unsettling.

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