Ambush predators use many intermediate strategies. Pursuit predation becomes a better strategy than ambush predation when the predator is faster than the prey.
Ambush predators are often camouflaged, and may be solitary. Strategy Video of a water bug nymph attacking a fishĪmbush predators usually remain motionless (sometimes hidden) and wait for prey to come within ambush distance before pouncing. Different ambush predators use a variety of means to capture their prey, from the long sticky tongues of chameleons to the expanding mouths of frogfishes.Īmbush predation is widely distributed in the animal kingdom, spanning some members of numerous groups such as the starfish, cephalopods, crustaceans, spiders, insects such as mantises, and vertebrates such as many snakes and fishes. Nocturnal ambush predators such as cats and snakes have vertical slit pupils helping them to judge the distance to prey in dim light. The predator then uses a combination of senses to detect and assess the prey, and to time the strike.
The ambush is often opportunistic, and may be set by hiding in a burrow, by camouflage, by aggressive mimicry, or by the use of a trap (e.g. Unlike pursuit predators, who chase to capture prey using sheer speed or endurance, ambush predators avoid fatigue by staying in concealment, waiting patiently for the prey to get near, before launching a sudden overwhelming attack that quickly incapacitates and captures the prey. Predator that sits and waits for prey to come to itĪ female goldenrod crab spider ( Misumena vatia) ambushing the female of a pair of mating fliesĪmbush predators or sit-and-wait predators are carnivorous animals that capture or trap prey via stealth, luring or by (typically instinctive) strategies utilizing an element of surprise.
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