Rural producer catches a crab spider preying on a snake in Maranhão A rural producer caught a crab spider preying on a vine snake in a reserve on the family property, in Vitória do Mearim, Maranhão. The images, recorded by Felipe Amurim, show the arachnid holding the reptile by the tail. ? Also follow Terra da Gente on Instagram "The registration was right here on our property, in our reserve. It was the first time I saw this scene. To tell the truth, I didn't even know that snakes could be preyed upon by spiders", says Amurim, who is a rural producer and agronomy student. According to him, the scene first attracted attention due to the reptile's unusual behavior. "I only saw the snake first. Then I saw it moving strangely. When I got closer, I saw the spider", he says. See more news from Terra da Gente, on g1: ENVIRONMENT: After 20 years, research shows that the Amazon is recovering from the fire, but is not returning the same HABITAT: The unexpected refuge of the tuiuiú is far from the Pantanal and is in Minas Gerais IMPRESSIVE: Vulture tries to eat a carcass, loses its balance and is caught 'spinning' an alligator in the water Rural producer catches crab tree preying on a snake in Maranhão Felipe Amurim Opportunistic species According to biologist Alexandre Michelotto, the spider spotted is a crab of the genus Avicularia, which lives in trees and can prey on vertebrates such as birds, rodents and, eventually, snakes. "There is no certain frequency. Spiders are opportunists, they eat everything they can. The natural environment is super complex, it will depend on the abundance of each species in the region", explains the expert. Crab of the genus avicularia sebastiandoak/iNaturalist According to Michelotto, episodes like this are rare. "It's very rare to see, but it happens. The most common is eating insects and other invertebrates. It's not really an option, it's what appears in front of you." How the spider neutralizes its prey To dominate a larger animal, such as a snake, the crab relies on its own venom. "They have a paralyzing venom, which is not of medical importance to us, large mammals", says the biologist. For Felipe Amurim, witnessing the moment was surprising. “The feeling was truly astonishment,” he summarizes. VIDEOS: Terra da Gente Highlights