When you think about the top predators in the world, what comes to mind? Do you think of sharks, lions, tigers, bears or snakes? Finding out who the top predators are just may creep you out and make you look around to see if you’re safe.
Biologists have calculated that the global population of spiders consumes 400 million to 800 million tonnes of primarily insect prey every year.
Researchers set out to put a value on the ecological importance of the arachnids.
They say their appetite for prey means they consume approximately the same amount as the weight of meat and fish eaten every year by humans.
The findings are published in the journal the Science of Nature.
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