Most plants probably seem harmless enough. They just sit, unmoving, soaking up the sun. But don’t be fooled: Some are actually secret killers. They lie in wait for small bugs, fish, and even mammals to fall into their traps. Then—CHOMP—gobble them up!
Worldwide, there are more than 800 species of carnivorous plants—ones that trap and eat animals. They’re found on every continent except Antarctica. Like all plants, they can make their own food using photosynthesis. Their leaves harness the sun’s energy to turn water and carbon dioxide gas into sugar the plants use as food.
So why eat animals? Plants can’t complete photosynthesis without important minerals like nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Most plants use their roots to suck up these nutrients from the soil. But carnivorous plants grow in waterlogged wetlands and swamps where these minerals are scarce. To survive, they’ve developed adaptations so they can feed on other organisms. “It’s a way to get nutrients the soil can’t provide,” says Liane Cochran-Stafira, an ecologist at Saint Xavier University in Illinois. Read about four clever ways carnivorous plants capture their prey.