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Australian Spiders

Sydney Funnel Web

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There are several species of funnel web spider found throughout Australia. The best known of these is the Sydney funnel web spider, Atrax robustus.

The male of this species is Australia's most dangerous spider, and is capable of causing death in as little as 15 minutes.

It is found only within a 160 km radius of Sydney, although related species have been described all along the east coast of Australia, and one of these, the northern or tree-dwelling funnel web spider (Hadronyche fomidabilis), has been shown to be dangerous to man.

The Sydney funnel web is a large, black aggressive spider with large powerful fangs. It lives in burrows or crevices in rocks or around house foundations, lining the burrows with silk. Colonies of more than 100 spiders may be found.

The male spiders in particular tend to wander into houses in the summer, especially in wet weather. It is unusual amongst spiders in that the male appears to be more dangerous than the female. It is also of note that the venom appears to particularly affect primates (like humans), whereas other mammals are relatively resistant.

Related weblinks -
• Learn more about this spider - http://www.rochedalss.eq.edu.au/spider/spider3.htm
• There is more here -
http://www.avru.unimelb.edu.au/avruweb/fws.htm
• And a bit more -
http://www.usyd.edu.au/anaes/venom/spiders.html