Amazing Animal Behaviour: Hunting Tactics

Exploring some of the most interesting animal behaviours around the planet is throwing up some intriguing results. With Valentine’s over and done with for another year, we can now move away from the realm of romance. So today we’re bringing you the ultimate hunting guide, telling you about some of the fascinating ways Earth’s creatures have developed to sustain themselves at the expense of their helpless prey.

Image courtesy of Minette Layne

Trapdoor:

It’s the master of the trapdoor - the trapdoor spider. These spiders are mainly found in Japan, Africa, South America and North America and spend most of their lives living underground. The trapdoor spider constructs burrows with a cork-like trapdoor made of soil, vegetation and silk, which are so well camouflaged they are very difficult to spot when it is closed. Laying out a series of silk trip lines around the edge of the burrow - the trap is finally set and the spider begins the patient wait for its oblivious prey to stumble on by. When the prey touches one of the trip wires the spider detects this and immediately pounces from its burrow capturing its prey. So swift is its pounce that the trapdoor spider even managed to give Sir David a fright.

Ambush:

Lightening quick and well-disguised the Praying mantis is a master of ambush. This predator lies quietly and patiently in wait before launching forward at its prey faster than the blink of an eye to impale its victim onto the rows of sharp spike on its legs. The best of the group has to be the orchid praying mantis; the architecture of its body allows it to blend completely with its surroundings...did you spot it in the video? Astonishingly, its mandibles are actually capable of cutting through human flesh so you don’t want to go poking at one of these. The praying mantis is certainly not one to be messed with and is able to kill prey twice or three times its size; check out this praying mantis taking down a mouse.

Muddy the Waters:

River dolphins have developed an incredibly clever hunting technique in order to catch their elusive fast swimming prey. Striking the silt river bed with their tales, the dolphins create a circulating plume of mud which acts like a net surrounding the fish and sparking panic in the shoal. As the fish go into frenzy they attempt to escape the ring of mushrooming mud. However, in their attempt to get free, they jump right into the mouths of the dolphins lying in wait around the ring. The dolphins have perfected the execution of this hunting method with the lead dolphin creating the ring whilst the rest of the group line-up in wait for their flying supper.

The Hunting Pack:

The pack approach is an excellent method for hunting. With muscle power, brute force and clever tactics, hunting packs can target and bring down much larger prey than predators working alone. The stealth and strategy of hunting packs means they are a force to be reckoned with. Many top predators including lions, wolves, and cheetahs choose to hunt in packs. In this amazing footage captured by the BBC, we see a pack of lions bringing down an elephant.

Mind Invasion:

This is one freaky predator. The cordyceps is a parasitic fungus which invades the bodies of insects and then uses them as hosts to reproduce and distribute its spores. The species Cordyceps unilateralis goes one step further than mere body invasion, actually invading and controlling the mind of the ants it parasitizes. Once the ant becomes infected, the fungus alters the ant’s behaviour impelling the ant to climb higher and higher. The reason being that from this elevated position, the spores of the fungi’s fruiting body can be more widely distributed by the wind.

Wave Washing:

This is undoubtedly one of the most sophisticated hunting methods out there as well as being an amazing spectacle. This approach involves the pod of killer whales working together to create waves to wash their prey from the safety of the ice sheets. Moving in formation, the killer whales are able to create large, powerful waves which they direct towards their prey with incredible accuracy. Once in the water the killer whales try to avoid the snapping jaws of the seal grabbing its tail to pull it underwater and drown it. With this highly effective hunting technique, the seals don’t stand much of a chance.

Defence Tactics:

Now that we know about some of the amazingly clever ways in which some animals have learnt to catch their prey, what about an animal that uses incredible behaviour to avoid becoming eaten?

Mimicry

The mimic octopus is the master of deception. It can immitate various marine animals to avoid danger, choosing from its repertoire the species which best suits its situation. Its many talents include rapid colour change, transforming its body shape, and emulating the movements of other animals. Just watch the video and be amazed at this wonder of nature.

By Hannah Jones