Stabbing, crushing, spitting and seducing are some of the more unusual, gruesome and clever ways spiders catch and kill their prey.

Though these predators are best known for ensnaring their food in sticky webs and paralyzing them with venom, this is only one of many different ways the world's 40,000 or so known spider species catch a meal.

Spiders are found everywhere from rainforests to deserts, and can even be found in tide-pools along the coast. What they eat, and how they capture it, is just as varied as where they live. Spiders catch and consume insects, other spiders and even small animals including snakes and birds.

Here are some of our favorite attack strategies.

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This widely distributed group of spiders lives near water and fishes for aquatic insects, small fish, and frogs. Fishing spiders wait near water, typically with their front legs resting on the surface to detect the vibrations of potential prey. Once an animal comes close enough, fishing spiders strike with their fangs. They'll also run across the water chasing after insects.

In the image below, a fishing spider is eating a tadpole in Gabon.

Images: 1) Andreas Kettenburg/CalPhoto, UC Berkeley. 2) Brian Gratwick/Flickr.