Damon Mcknight
Australia is home to a wide variety of spiders, some of which are among the largest in the world. The 'Big Boy' spider, also known as the Sydney funnel-web spider, is considered one of the largest and most venomous spiders in Australia, growing up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) long. Another contender for the title of Australia's largest spider is the giant huntsman spider, which boasts a leg span of up to 12 inches (30 cm) and a body length of 1.8 inches (4.6 cm). While the giant huntsman spider is typically found in Laos, it is also prevalent in Australia, where it is considered a natural part of the country's biodiversity.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Giant Huntsman Spider, 'Big Boy' Spider, Sydney Funnel-Web Spider |
| Species | Heteropoda maxima |
| Colour | Yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. |
| Body Length | 4.6 cm (1.8 in) |
| Leg Span | 30 cm (12 in) |
| Weight | Not found |
| Region | Newcastle, Sydney, Laos, Australia |
| Diet | Insects and other invertebrates |
| Speed | Up to a yard (almost 1 meter) per second |
| Habitat | Under loose bark on trees, under rocks, in crevices, under foliage, rainforests |
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What You'll Learn
Huntsman spiders are sprinters and gymnasts
Australia is home to a wide variety of unique creatures, including the giant green-bellied huntsman spider. Huntsman spiders are members of the family Sparassidae, formerly known as Heteropodidae. They are commonly referred to as giant crab spiders due to their size and appearance. Their legs are long compared to their bodies and twist forward in a crab-like fashion. The average huntsman spider has a leg span of up to 15 cm, but some species, like the giant huntsman spider, can reach up to 30 cm in leg span.
The giant green-bellied huntsman spider, or Typostola barbata, is a striking example of this genus. It is easily recognizable by its vibrant green underside and yellow-orange markings around its eyes. Its reddish-brown brushes between its jaws further distinguish this species. Despite their intimidating appearance, these spiders are not aggressive towards humans. They prefer to stay in the bush, hunting bugs and minding their own business.
Huntsman spiders are adaptable creatures, often taking shelter under rocks, bark, and similar hiding places. They are also known to enter human dwellings, sometimes scuttling out from behind curtains or hiding behind sun visors in cars. While their venom is not as dangerous as that of the Sydney funnel-web spider, it can still cause local swelling, pain, nausea, and other unpleasant symptoms.
The female huntsman spider is particularly protective of her egg sac, aggressively defending it against any perceived threats. She stands guard over her eggs for about three weeks, even going without food during this period. The female huntsman's dedication to her offspring is a testament to the survival instincts of these arachnids.
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Funnel-web spiders have extremely dangerous venom
The Sydney funnel-web spider is one of the most venomous spiders in the world. Its venom is extremely dangerous, and it has been responsible for many human fatalities. The male of the species is particularly deadly, and is capable of causing death in as little as 15 minutes. The spider is large, with powerful fangs that can penetrate fingernails and soft shoes. It is native to Sydney and its suburbs, where it constructs distinctive funnel-shaped burrows to trap its prey.
The Sydney funnel-web spider is not the only venomous spider in Australia. There are 38 described species of Australian funnel-web spiders, and they are currently placed in three genera: Hadronyche, Atrax, and Illawarra. These spiders are medium to large, with body lengths ranging from 1 cm to 5 cm. They are darkly coloured, with a hard, sparsely haired, and glossy carapace covering the front part of their bodies.
The venom of funnel-web spiders is highly toxic and fast-acting. It can cause severe symptoms that can worsen and progress rapidly. Symptoms of a funnel-web spider bite include acute cardiovascular and neurologic changes. If you are bitten by a funnel-web spider, it is important to seek emergency medical treatment immediately. The first aid treatment for a suspected funnel-web spider bite includes cleansing the bitten area with soap and water and applying a pressure immobilization bandage.
The good news is that, since the development of an antivenom in 1981, there have been no recorded deaths from funnel-web spider bites. This antivenom has been effective not only against the Sydney funnel-web spider but also against other dangerous funnel-web spider species. It is held at major city and regional hospitals, so timely medical intervention can save lives.
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The 'big boy' spider is Australia's largest deadly funnel-web spider
The "big boy" spider is Australia's largest deadly funnel-web spider. It is one of three species of Sydney funnel-web spiders, the others being Atrax robustus and Atrax montanus. The "big boy" spider, formally known as Atrax christenseni, was first described in the early 2000s by Kane Christensen, the former head of spiders at the Australian Reptile Park, who gave the species its nickname.
The Sydney funnel-web spider was originally described in 1877 and has long been known to be extremely venomous. However, it was only recently discovered that there are, in fact, three distinct species of this spider. The "big boy" is the largest of the three, growing up to 3.5 inches (9 cm) long. For context, the real" Sydney funnel-web spider grows up to 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) long.
Atrax christenseni is found in a small region surrounding the city of Newcastle, around 105 miles (170 km) north of Sydney. It inhabits silk-lined burrows and can wander into houses during the summer when males leave their burrows in search of mates. Its venom is extremely dangerous, and it has fangs so big they can bite through human fingernails.
The giant funnel-web spider is not the only large spider in Australia. The giant huntsman spider (Heteropoda maxima) is the largest spider in the world by leg span, which can reach up to 30 cm (1 ft).
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The giant huntsman spider is the largest member of the family Sparassidae
The giant huntsman spider (Heteropoda maxima) is a species of the huntsman spider family Sparassidae. It is found in Laos, where it was first discovered in 2001 by Peter Jäger in a cave. It is considered the world's largest spider by leg span, which can reach up to 30 cm (12 in), with a body length of 4.6 cm (1.8 in).
The giant huntsman spider is yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. Its legs have wide dark bands before the first bend, and they twist forward in a crab-like fashion. This is a characteristic shared by all huntsman spiders, whose legs spread out forwards and laterally. This feature, along with their colouring, often leads to huntsman spiders being mistaken for tarantulas or brown recluse spiders. However, unlike the brown recluse, the giant huntsman spider's venom is not particularly dangerous to humans.
Huntsman spiders are native to tropical and warm temperate regions worldwide, including much of Australia, Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean Basin, and the Americas. They are called giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. They catch their prey by hunting rather than using webs, and their diet consists primarily of insects and other invertebrates, and occasionally small skinks and geckos.
Female huntsman spiders produce a flat, oval egg sac of white papery silk, laying up to 200 eggs at a time. She then places it under bark or a rock and stands guard over it without eating for about three weeks. During this time, the female can be quite aggressive and will rear up in a defensive display if provoked. Some species will even carry their egg sac under their bodies while moving.
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The giant huntsman spider is the largest known spider by leg span
The giant huntsman spider (Heteropoda maxima) is the largest known spider by leg span, which can reach up to 30 cm (12 in) or roughly the size of a dinner plate. It is a species of the huntsman spider family Sparassidae found in Laos and is considered the world's largest spider by leg span. The giant huntsman spider is yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. Its legs have wide dark bands before the first bend.
The giant huntsman spider is the largest member of the family Sparassidae, with a body length of about 4.6 cm (1.8 in). The largest known member of the Sparassidae known prior to the discovery of the giant huntsman spider was the Australian Beregama aurea, with a body length of about 4 cm (1.6 in). The giant huntsman spider is distinguished from other species of Heteropoda by its genital characteristics. On males, the cymbium is at least three times longer than the tegulum, while the female has a characteristically shaped epigyneal field with two anterior-directed bands and the course of their internal ducts.
Huntsman spiders are a group of large spiders in the family Sparassidae, which comprises more than 1,300 species. They are found in warm climates across the globe and are known for chasing their prey. They actively seek out and run after their prey using their long, spindly legs, rather than building a web and waiting for their meal to come to them. Once they catch their target, these speedy spiders inject it with immobilizing venom and then consume it.
The giant huntsman spider is native to Asia but can also be found in Africa, Australia, South America, and some warm American states like Florida, California, and Texas. They are sometimes called banana spiders due to the folklore story that they traveled from Asia to other regions in boxes of bananas. Huntsman spiders are also known as giant crab spiders because of their size and appearance. They tend to live under rocks, bark, and similar shelters, but human encounters are common in sheds, garages, and other infrequently disturbed places.
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Frequently asked questions
The largest Australian spider by leg span is the giant huntsman spider, which can reach up to 30 cm (12 in) in length. Its body grows to 1.8 inches (4.6 cm) in size.
The giant huntsman spider is yellowish-brown with several irregularly distributed dark spots on the rear half. Its legs have wide dark bands before the first bend.
The giant huntsman spider was first discovered in Laos, but it can also be found in warm climates across the globe, including Australia.
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