Damon Mcknight
Australia is known for its diverse and unique wildlife, including its large spiders. While the country is home to a variety of arachnid species, only a small number are considered dangerous to humans. The most common large spiders in Australia include the huntsman, orb weaver, redback, funnel-web, and trapdoor spiders. These spiders can be found in various environments across the country, from urban areas to the Outback. While some people may be afraid of encountering these large spiders, it is important to remember that they are a natural part of the Australian ecosystem and play an important role in maintaining the balance of the environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of venomous spiders in Australia | Many, including the Sydney funnel-web spider, Hexathelidae, and the redback spider |
| Number of spider species in Australia | 10,000 (estimated) |
| Number of spider species described | 3,600 |
| Common large spiders in Australia | Huntsman spiders, Redbacks, Funnel webs, Tarantulas, Daddy long-legs |
| Huntsman spider size | Up to the size of a human hand |
| Huntsman spider colour | Grey to brown, sometimes with banded legs |
| Huntsman spider behaviour | Harmless, prefers to be outside, can be aggressive when threatened |
| Redback spider behaviour | Can be found in corners of gardens or garages |
| Funnel web spider behaviour | Can be found in gardens |
| Daddy long-legs spider behaviour | Can kill the redback spider |
| Sydney | Unlikely to find big spiders |
| Melbourne | Unlikely to find big spiders |
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What You'll Learn
Huntsman spiders are common and harmless
Huntsman spiders are large, long-legged spiders with a hairy appearance, often mistaken for tarantulas. They are commonly found in Australia, where they are mostly found outdoors, under rocks, bark, and similar shelters. However, human encounters with Huntsman spiders are not uncommon, as they are known to enter houses, cars, sheds, and garages.
Despite their intimidating appearance, Huntsman spiders are generally harmless to humans. While they do possess venom, it is not considered dangerous to humans. Their bites are rare and usually occur only when the spider feels threatened. Most Huntsman spiders will try to flee rather than bite. Their fangs are capable of piercing human skin, but the bites typically cause only mild symptoms like slight pain, redness, and swelling.
In Australia, Huntsman spiders are widespread and can be found in various habitats. They are known to enter human dwellings, particularly in rural or suburban areas. However, they are not confined to these areas and can also be found in cities like Sydney and Melbourne. While some people may be afraid of encountering Huntsman spiders, it is important to remember that they are not aggressive and will usually try to avoid humans.
The female Huntsman spiders exhibit protective behaviour towards their egg sacs and young. They stand guard over their eggs for several weeks without eating and will aggressively defend them if they perceive any threats. This defensive behaviour may result in a bite, but it is still rare for them to bite humans. Overall, Huntsman spiders play a beneficial role in the ecosystem by helping to keep pest populations under control.
While Huntsman spiders are common and mostly harmless, some people may still have a fear of spiders (arachnophobia) or simply prefer to avoid encounters with them. To minimise the chances of encountering Huntsman spiders indoors, it is recommended to seal cracks and gaps around doors and windows, remove clutter, and use fly screens. If you encounter a Huntsman spider, you can gently trap and release it back outdoors, or contact a professional spider control service for assistance.
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Sydney funnel-web spiders are lethal
Australia is known for its large spiders, and while most are not dangerously venomous, there are some species that are highly venomous and can be lethal. One of the most well-known venomous spiders in Australia is the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus). This spider is native to eastern Australia and is typically found within a 100 km radius of Sydney, in both suburbia and bushland. It is considered one of the world's deadliest spiders due to its highly toxic venom, which can cause serious illness or death in humans if left untreated.
The Sydney funnel-web spider is a relatively large spider, with a body length ranging from 1 to 5 cm, and some males even reaching 10 cm in length when stretched out. They are glossy and darkly coloured, ranging from blue-black to black, brown, or dark plum. They are aggressive spiders, particularly when threatened or provoked, and they will rear up on their hind legs and display their fangs, which are large, rearward-facing and capable of piercing through fingernails.
The venom of the Sydney funnel-web spider is highly toxic to humans and other primates due to the presence of delta-atracotoxin, an ion channel inhibitor. When biting, the funnel-web spider often strikes repeatedly and maintains a tight grip on its victim. The lethal dose of venom in humans is not known, but it has been determined that the lethal dose of venom from male Sydney funnel-web spiders for the crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis) is 0.2 mg/kg. In humans, the onset of symptoms after a bite can be rapid, with a median time of 28 minutes, and children are particularly at risk of severe envenoming.
The Australian Reptile Park plays a crucial role in producing life-saving antivenom for the Sydney funnel-web spider. They run the country's only venom milking program, and since the development of the antivenom in 1981, there have been no reported fatalities from Sydney funnel-web spider bites. The park encourages the public to catch any funnel-web spiders they encounter and drop them off at designated locations to support the venom-milking program and help save lives.
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Redback spiders are venomous
Australia is home to a wide variety of spiders, some of which are venomous. One of the most well-known venomous spiders in Australia is the redback spider (*Latrodectus hasselti*), also known as the Australian black widow. This spider is highly venomous and is believed to have originated in Australia, but it has now spread to other parts of the world, including Southeast Asia and New Zealand.
Redback spiders are easily identified by their distinctive markings. The adult female redback has a spherical black body with a prominent red or orange stripe on the upper side of her abdomen and an hourglass-shaped red or orange streak on the underside. The female redback is larger than the male, with a body length of about 10 millimetres, while the male measures only 3 to 4 millimetres. The male is light brown with white markings on the upper side of the abdomen and a pale hourglass marking on the underside.
The redback spider's bite can be extremely painful and has been linked to deaths in historical medical records. However, no deaths caused by spider bites in Australia have been substantiated by a coronial inquest since 1979. The female redback spider is slow-moving and rarely leaves her web, so most bites occur when a person accidentally places their hand or another body part too close to the spider or disturbs its hiding place. The redback spider's venom contains a neurotoxin called alpha-latrotoxin, which can cause local pain, erythema, and, in some cases, systemic symptoms. Antivenom is available and effective in treating redback spider bites, although pain relief is often the preferred treatment.
Redback spiders are commonly found in human-modified habitats, such as near or inside residences, and they are attracted to areas with food scraps and lighting that attract insect prey. They are also frequently found in outdoor areas, such as backyards and sheds. To avoid being bitten by a redback spider, it is recommended to wear gloves when working outdoors and to check for spiders in items such as clothes, shoes, and garden tools. While redback spiders are venomous, they are not considered to be dangerously toxic, and most people who receive a bite will fully recover without lasting adverse effects.
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Trapdoor spiders are relatively harmless
Australia is known for its large spiders, and while some are venomous, most are not considered dangerously toxic. There have been no deaths caused by spider bites in Australia since 1979.
Trapdoor spiders are large, hairy spiders that nest underground. They are ambush hunters, using a trapdoor to seal their burrow, which they use to both conceal themselves from prey and protect themselves from predators. Trapdoor spiders are usually nocturnal, waiting for prey while holding onto the underside of the door with their claws. They prey on insects and arthropods, but also occasionally small vertebrates such as birds, lizards, frogs, mice, and fish.
Trapdoor spiders are found in Japan, Africa, South America, North America, and many other warm places. They are common in the southwestern United States and can also be found in eastern Australia, particularly in coastal and highland regions of New South Wales and Victoria. While they are mostly nocturnal, they are sometimes seen during the day.
In summary, while trapdoor spiders are large and can be aggressive, they are relatively harmless to humans. They play an important role in the ecosystem by preying on insects and other arthropods, and their venom is not considered dangerously toxic.
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Orb spiders are common in coastal areas
Australia is home to a wide variety of spiders, including the orb-weaver spiders, which are members of the spider family Araneidae. Orb-weavers are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel-shaped webs, often found in gardens, fields, and forests. They are commonly found around human habitation and may be found resting under leaves and in similar places.
Orb-weavers are quite common in coastal areas, especially in the Sydney region. The Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney is a good place to spot them, as are the mangrove forests of Bicentennial Park and the Homebush Bay area of the city. The two species found in Sydney are Nephila edulis and N. plumipes.
Orb-weavers are mostly nocturnal and feed on flying insects. They make their sticky rounded orb webs near lights and between trees where insects are likely to fly. During the day, the spider will often rest somewhere near the web, usually under a leaf or twig, or in a crevice in the bark or rock.
Orb-weavers are generally not dangerous to humans. Their bites may induce mild local pain, redness, and occasional swelling for a short period. However, they are reluctant to bite and will usually retreat or "play dead" when disturbed.
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Frequently asked questions
Big spiders are not uncommon in Australia, especially in the outback and in bush or wooded areas. However, they are less likely to be found in cities and urban centres.
Big spiders in Australia are commonly found in the outback and in bush or wooded areas. They can also be found in Australian households, garages, gardens, and even inside cars.
Spiders are rarely found in hotels in Australia. However, they will be found outside, particularly in Queensland.
Some examples of big spiders in Australia include Huntsman spiders, tarantulas, redbacks, funnel webs, orb spiders, and trapdoor spiders.
While most big spiders in Australia are not dangerously toxic, some can be highly venomous and even lethal, such as the Sydney funnel-web spider and the redback spider. It is important to take precautions and seek medical attention if bitten.
