Hunting Spiders - Dangerous
Funnel Web Spider
SYDNEY FUNNEL-WEB SPIDER (Atrax robustus)
still courtesy to : www.spiderzrule.com/spider
Funnel Web Spider - Atrax & Hadronyche
The Sydney Funnel-web Spider is believed to be limited to an area of about 160 kilometres from the centre of Sydney. Other species of Funnel-Web Spider are found in Eastern Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. They are probably the most venomous aggressive spider in the world, all funnel web species should be treated as dangerous, not just the Sydney or Northern tree dweller. However, species proven dangerous to humans are largely limited to eastern parts of NSW and SE Queensland. The only proven killer, Atrax robustus, is restricted to the Sydney region and adjacent areas to the north and south of the city, including Gosford. If they bite you it is usually a pretty deep injection but even a small grazing bite means get to hospital immediately.
This spider is one of Australia's largest and most easily identified. The body of a female Sydney Funnel-web spider measures about 35mm in length and the male about 25mm. The paired spinnerets at the end of the abdomen are particularly long, much longer than those of other large dark spiders. The male is of a more delicate build than the female and has 2 features which help identification. One is a little spur half way along its second leg on each side and the other is finely pointed feelers to transfer sperm to the female.
The Sydney Funnel-web Spider is believed to be limited to an area of about 160 kilometres from the centre of Sydney. Other species of Funnel-Web Spider are found in Eastern Australia, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania. They are probably the most venomous aggressive spider in the world, all funnel web species should be treated as dangerous to humans, not just the Sydney or Northern tree dweller. However, species so far proven dangerous to humans have a more limited range, largely limited to eastern parts of NSW and SE Queensland. The only proven killer, the Sydney funnel web spider, is restricted to the Sydney region and adjacent areas to the north and south of the city, including Gosford. If they bite you it is usually a pretty deep injection but even a small grazing bite means get to hospital immediately.
The Sydney Funnel-web constructs its own burrow which may be over a foot deep or uses a suitable crevice in rocks or round house foundations. Sometimes, Funnel-webs may be found in colonies of over a hundred. The webs are white and often tubular rather than funnel-like with supporting lines running out to surrounding rocks and debris.
The spiders may take several years to reach maturity and live for perhaps 8 years or longer. When mature, the males leave their webs and lead a homeless existence. They tend to roam and often enter homes particularly during Summer after a heavy downpour of rain. They mate with a female for only one season and if not killed shortly after mating, die within a few months.
NORTHERN OR TREE-DWELLING FUNNEL-WEB SPIDER
(Atrax formidabilis)
The Northern or Tree-dwelling Funnel-web Spider is the most dangerous member of this species and near to the most dangerous in the world.They are found from northern New South Wales to southern Queensland, usually in heavily timbered areas which are rarely entered by man. A female may make her nest in a hole as high as 18 metres from the base of a tree. The venom from both males and females has shown to be more toxic than the male Sydney Funnel-web. The antivenom developed for the Sydney Funnel-web may be used effectively against the Northern Funnel-web.
Both sexes are very aggressive and when approached, will rear up into a ready-to-strike position. Their massive fangs can penetrate a child's fingernail. However, most people bitten by them are not injected with sufficient venom to cause any illness.Often it falls off the tips of the spider's fangs as it makes a preliminary downward thrust. People bitten by the female may at the most suffer pain around the bitten area.
The venom of the male is 5 times more toxic than the female. Man and monkeys seem to be especially susceptible to the venom. For example, rabbits can be given very large doses of the venom with no apparent effect but a small dose injected into a monkey produces the terrifying symptoms seen in humans. In all cases where the victim has died, and in which the spider has been positively identified, it has been a male spider.
The venom contains a low molecular weight toxin called atraxtoxin which attacks the nerves of the body causing thousands of electrical impulses to be fired down them. The muscles twitch and there is a profuse flow of perspiration, tears and saliva. The venom also causes changes to blood vessels which can lead to shock and coma due to brain damage. All the evidence suggests that the effects wear off after a few hours. Provided the victim reaches hospital before serious illness has developed, he or she has an excellent chance of recovery. An antivenom to the venom of the Sydney Funnel-web Spider became available in 1980.
Here is a photo of a Hadronyche Versutus, the Blue Mountains Funnel Web. She came from the Hill End area in New South Wales. Hill End is a little way from Bathurst. Photo by Colin Holliday.
Here are some great close up photos of a female Sydney A. Robustus sent in by Colin Holliday. They were done under flash and show the colours of the spider underneath and in the leg joints as well as the extent of the hairs they have on their bodies which are not as noticeable without the flash.
White Tailed Spider - Lampona cylindrata
The white tailed spider is about the size of a 50c
piece when fully grown, with a leg diameter about the size of a pin. It has a grey cigar-shaped abdomen with a white spot on the end and sometimes the legs
are banded with light traverse marks on the abdomen. These markings are more predominant on the juvenile White Tailed spider. It is typically found in cool, dark areas - under bark, in gardens, litter, walls and beds. It is active at night time. Although it has been suggested as a culprit in rare cases of large scale necrotic lesions,
there is little supporting evidence.
White Tailed Spider
The White Tailed Spider (Lampona cylindrata) is about the size of a 50c piece when fully grown, with a leg diameter about the size of a pin. It has a grey cigar-shaped abdomen with a white spot on the end and sometimes the legs are banded with light traverse marks on the abdomen. These markings are more predominant on the juvenile White Tailed spider. It is typically found in cool, dark areas - under bark, in gardens, litter, walls and beds. It is active at night time and often enters buildings where it can be seen walking across floors and up walls. It is commonly found in the bedroom and during daylight hours, the spider seeks a dark place to hide. Indoors, this may be in clothing that has been left lying about and bites may occur when this clothing is put on.
It is most prevalent in Spring - Autumn and there are many species in Australia and New Zealand. The White Tailed Spider does not usually build a web, preferring to rove around. It prefers to nip and run when cornered but can bite repeatedly. Bites by this spider are relatively frequent due to its wandering habit.
White Tailed Spider venom comes up non-necrotic.
Although it has been suggested as a culprit in rare cases of large scale necrotic lesions, there is little supporting evidence.
The bite symptoms vary from no reaction to local pain, swelling, redness and small local ulcers that usually clear up in a few days although more serious reactions have been claimed.
Dangerous White-Tail Spider in Australia
White Tail Spider
Other Spiders as a pet .. Introduction and keeping
Other spiders Species : Common Australian Spiders 1 ... 2 .... 3
Common United States Spiders and Americas 1 ... 2 .... 3
Other Spiders as a pet .. Introduction and keeping
Other spiders Species : Common Australian Spiders 1 ... 2 .... 3
Common United States Spiders and Americas 1 ... 2 .... 3