Funnel web spider
Hadronyche cerberea
Funnel web spider
Photo by Alan Couch – Southern tree funnel web (Hadronyche cerberea)
Funnel web spiders are found across New South Wales from the coast of Newcastle to Nowra, and inland as far as Lithgow. It is the subspecies known as the Sydney funnel web (Altrax robustus) that is famous because it’s venom is as deadly as the deadliest snakes in the world. Without anti-venom, a Sydney Funnelweb bite will kill a human. Funnel webs are usually blue-black in colour, but this depends on wehther they are getting close to shedding time. Spiders shed their skins to grow, just like reptiles do.
Interesting facts about the Sydney Funnel web spider:
The female is approx. 35mm long, towering over the male of only 25mm.
These Funnel webs have teeth! They can be identified by a row of teeth that run across the fang groove and a row on its paired claws.
The male spider has venom that is around 6 times more toxic than that of the female spider.
The venom is similar to that of the Blue-ringed octopus. They both contain neurotoxins which prevent the brain from transferring information to the rest of the body. Some victims have experienced uncontrollable muscular spasms.
These spiders can be milked for their venom so anti-venom can be made, which saves lives when people get bitten.
THESE SPIDERS ARE CONSIDERED DANGEROUS AND VENOMOUS SO IF YOU SEE ONE DO NOT APPROACH IT!
Also these critters are most active after rain, so DON’T leave clothes or shoes outside overnight, because they love damp dark conditions.
