Damon Mcknight
The funnel-web spider is one of the most venomous and deadly spiders in the world. It is native to Australia and is found in moist forest regions along the east coast of mainland Australia down to Tasmania. The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is the most well-known species of funnel-web spider and is considered to be one of the most dangerous spiders in Australia. It is found in the Sydney metropolitan region, extending from the Central Coast to the south and west of Sydney, and as far as the Blue Mountains and Wollongong.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common name | Australian funnel-web spiders |
| Scientific name | Atracidae |
| Genera | Atrax, Hadronyche, and Illawarra |
| Species | 35 |
| Venomous | Yes |
| Aggressive | Yes |
| Habitat | Moist forest regions along the east coast of mainland Australia down to Tasmania |
| Habitat type | Ground-dwelling and tree-dwelling |
| Burrow type | Silk-lined burrows in sheltered sites under logs and rocks |
| Burrow location | Bushy suburban areas, open and closed sclerophyll forests and woodlands, often on south or east-facing slopes or in shady gullies |
| Geographic range | Sydney metropolitan region, Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong, Newcastle, Southern Highlands, Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania |
| Bite treatment | Pressure immobilization bandage, antivenom |
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What You'll Learn
Sydney funnel-web spiders
The Sydney funnel-web spider, or Atrax robustus, is a species of venomous mygalomorph spider native to eastern Australia. It is usually found within a 100 km (62 mi) or 160-kilometre radius of Sydney. The Sydney funnel-web spider is one of the most notorious spiders in the world, with a fearsome reputation.
The Sydney funnel-web spider is medium to large in size, with a body length ranging from 1 to 5 cm (0.4 to 2 in), and sometimes up to 8 cm. Both sexes are glossy and darkly coloured, ranging from blue-black, to black, to shades of brown or dark plum. They have large fangs and venom sacs, and their bite can be fatal to humans if left untreated. Their diet consists of beetles, cockroaches, insect larvae, native land snails, millipedes, and occasionally frogs and other small vertebrates.
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Northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spiders
The northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider, also known as the Northern Rivers funnel-web spider or northern funnel-web spider, is a member of the genus Hadronyche. It was first described in 1914 by William Joseph Rainbow, who placed it in the genus Atrax. However, he suspected that it might need to be classified separately due to its unique characteristics. The species name, Hadronyche formidabilis, is derived from the Latin word "formidabilis," meaning "terrifying."
This spider is found in eastern Australia, specifically in Queensland and New South Wales. Its range extends from South East Queensland to the Hunter River in New South Wales. It inhabits wet forests, particularly those with tallowwood trees (Eucalyptus microcorys), and is often found in rotting logs, branches, and hollow furrows or pipes of trees. They have been spotted in trees as high as 30 meters above the ground.
The northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider is the largest member of the funnel-web subfamily Atracinae, with a body length of 40-50 millimetres. It has a glossy black carapace and matte black or dark brown chelicerae, legs, and abdomen. The dorsolateral surface of the abdomen may exhibit a plum or purplish tinge. The carapace of this species is longer and thinner compared to other members of the genus Hadronyche.
The venom of the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider is highly toxic and potentially deadly to humans. It is considered the most venomous member of the family Atracidae. Out of eight recorded bites, five resulted in severe symptoms of envenomation. The symptoms are similar to those of a Sydney funnel-web spider bite and include diaphoresis, hypertension, sinus tachycardia, muscle spasms, nausea, vomiting, altered consciousness, and local pain at the bite site. However, the antivenom for the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) can be used to treat bites from this species effectively.
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Suburban Sydney
Funnel-web spiders are native to Australia and are particularly associated with Suburban Sydney, where they are considered an iconic, if feared, part of the local fauna. These spiders have become well adapted to the suburban environment and are commonly found in the area's
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Newcastle funnel-web spiders
Australian funnel-web spiders are one of the most medically significant groups of spiders in the world. They are regarded by some to be the most deadly, in terms of both clinical cases and venom toxicity. They tend to live in moist forest regions along the east coast of mainland Australia down to Tasmania. The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is probably the most notorious of all spiders and has a fearsome reputation.
The Newcastle funnel-web spider (Atrax christenseni) is a recently discovered species of Australian funnel-web spider. It was named by scientists at the Australian Museum Research Institute after Kane Christensen, who contributed specimens that led to its recognition as a distinct species. The Newcastle funnel-web spider last shared a common ancestor with the Sydney funnel-web 17 million years ago. It has thicker legs than the Sydney funnel-web, and the easiest way to tell them apart is by looking at their reproductive organs. The Newcastle funnel-web spider is found in the area north of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, where it inhabits silk-lined burrows. The exact location of the spider populations is not published, due to conservation concerns and its poison.
Funnel-web spiders typically live in moist, cool soil, often under rocks and logs. They build silk-lined burrows or holes, with silk trip lines radiating out from the entrance. They generally stay in their burrows but will escape from flooded burrows during heavy rain, and males wander during the warmer months to look for a mate. They are attracted to water and are often found in swimming pools, into which they often fall while wandering. They can survive immersion in water for several hours and can deliver a bite when removed from the water. They also show up in garages and yards in suburban areas.
Funnel-web spider bites are dangerous and first aid should be given immediately using the pressure bandage/immobilisation technique, as for snakebites. The victim should then be taken to the hospital and given antivenom if necessary. The funnel-web spider bite is powerful—they are known to bite through soft shoes and fingernails. The venom of the male Sydney funnel-web contains a unique component called robustoxin, which is particularly toxic to the human nervous system.
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Southern Sydney funnel-web spiders
Australian funnel-web spiders are one of the most medically significant groups of spiders in the world and are regarded by some to be the most deadly in terms of clinical cases and venom toxicity. They are native to Australia and are mostly found in the moist forest regions along the east coast of mainland Australia down to Tasmania. They are also found in the drier open forests of the Western Slopes of the Great Dividing Range and South Australia's Gulf region.
The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is a species of venomous mygalomorph spider native to eastern Australia, usually found within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of Sydney. The spider can be found in moist microhabitats, including under logs and foliage. Sydney funnel-web spiders are mostly terrestrial spiders, favouring habitats with moist sand and clays. They typically build silk-lined tubular burrow retreats with collapsed "tunnels" or open "funnel" entrances from which irregular trip-lines radiate over the ground.
The Southern Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax montanus) is one of three funnel-web species that are common in the Greater Sydney region, the others being the Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus) and the Southern Tree-dwelling Funnel-web Spider (Hadronyche cerberea). The Southern Sydney funnel-web spider's range has recently reduced in the south, with few recent records from south of the Parramatta River limited to the Bankstown-Mortdale area.
The species distribution overlaps with the Sydney funnel-web spider, extending from the Central Coast south to the Georges River, as far west as Baulkham Hills. Some records of the Southern Sydney funnel-web spider are also known from the Blue Mountains and Wollongong. In Sydney suburbia, funnel-web spiders mostly live in the moist upland forest areas of the Hornsby Plateau to the north and the Woronora Plateau to the south, where sheltered burrow habitats abound in both bushland and gardens.
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Frequently asked questions
Funnel-web spiders are found in moist forest regions along the east coast of mainland Australia down to Tasmania. They are also found in suburban areas of Sydney, in areas such as garages and backyards, and in swimming pools.
There are several species of funnel-web spiders found in Australia. The best-known species is the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus). Other species include the Southern Sydney funnel-web (Atrax montanus) and the Newcastle funnel-web (Atrax christenseni).
Yes, funnel-web spiders are considered one of the most venomous and deadly spiders in the world, particularly the male Sydney funnel-web spider. Their bites can be fatal, and they are known to bite through soft shoes and fingernails. However, no fatalities have been recorded since the development of antivenom in the early 1980s.
