 Spiders are one of the most successful predator species on Earth, with their ability to quickly subdue prey largely attributed to their use of silk and highly specialized venoms. These venoms are composed of thousands of unique peptides, many of which have been identified as potential drugs for treating various diseases such as heart disease, chronic pain, inflammation, and erectile dysfunction. This article was authored by Glenn F. King, Volker Hursig, Lachlan D. Rash and others.