Fang

Fangs are part of the chelicerae of spiders and are used in feeding and in defence. The fangs are sharp structures that are hollow with an opening at the tip. When capturing prey the fangs are plunged into the body of the prey and venom squeezed down the hollow fangs into the prey.

The fangs are part of the exoskeleton of a spider and are moulted when the spider moults. Since the new exoskeleton takes a few days to harden the newly moulted spider cannot feed during this time.

Centipedes also possess fangs. However, in contrast to spiders, centipede fangs are modified front limbs that end in a sharp point.

A photograph of a woodlouse spider (Dydsdera crocata) showing the large fangs.
Photograph by Mvuijlst licensed under Creative Commons.

Other names for (or types of) Fang include:

• Cheliceral fang

Related terms

• Arachnid
• Chelicerae
• Chilopoda
• Spider
• Venom

Related groups of terms

• Invertebrate body structure

Related pages on this web site

• Arachnids

See other words beginning with F