Pelican Spider ( Archaeidae sp.)

The pelican spider has evolved an extraordinarily long neck and extended jaw, physically resembling a pelican's beak. This highly modified anatomy allows it to strike and hold other dangerous spiders at a safe distance while its venom takes effect. It is one of the most bizarre anatomical adaptations in the arachnid world.

These strange arachnids are native to the forests of Madagascar and also exist in small populations in Australia and South Africa. They represent an ancient lineage of spiders that have survived for millions of years, often referred to as living fossils. The Madagascar species possess the most extreme elongated features.

Pelican spiders are strictly araneophagic, meaning their diet consists entirely of other spiders. They are active hunters that wander the forest at night, meticulously following the silk trail lines left by other spiders. They prefer to prey on other small, web-building spiders.

These spiders were originally identified from perfectly preserved fossils trapped in amber in Europe in the mid-19th century. Scientists assumed the ancient, strange-looking lineage had been extinct for millions of years. However, living specimens were shockingly discovered alive in the forests of Madagascar in 1881.