When a spider catches prey it uses a pair of jointed appendages known as the chelicerae, located in front of the mouth opening. Chelicerae resemble tiny pocketknives. Each chelicera has a sharp fang that swings out of its resting position to stab into the victim. Near the tip of the fang is a duct opening that comes from a poison gland. The fang acts like a hypodermic needle—it ejects venom from the poison gland and delivers it into the prey.
Spiders also use chelicerae as multipurpose tools. They have been called the “hands” of the spider. Spiders can use their chelicerae to perform tasks such as digging burrows in the soil and transporting small prey
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