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Poisonous spider MkII
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...but if you swallowed a poisonous spider, wouldnt you digest it's poison and ultimatley die?
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.Totally agree with robber1- great question! Obviously a theoretical point as the spider would bite you before it got close to the stomach.
I would guess that you wouldn't be affected by the poison because it would mix in with the stomach acids which would dilute it by quite a fair amount before it enters the blood stream. A bite from a spider probably delivers a large dose in one go, rather than a long drawn out attack.
Im going with a non-fatal answer.
Most animal poisons are proteins, which are usually digested along with the protein of muscle etc.
But you need to be careful -- it could bite on the way down, or the toxin could get into your blood through a scratch inside your mouth or wherever.
Incidentally, all spiders are poisonous -- it's just the strength of the poison and the size of the fangs which varies. There is I think just one UK species which can get through human skin, and can make you feel ill for a day or two (though I was bitten by one once, through the thick skin of my palm, and I felt fine).
If in doubt, swallow a bird, quick.
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