Missulena bradleyi facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Missulena bradleyi |
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| Eastern mouse spider, Missulena bradleyi | |
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The eastern mouse spider (Missulena bradleyi) is a type of spider found only along the eastern coast of Australia. It belongs to a spider family called Actinopodidae. These spiders are known for their strong bodies and interesting habits.
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Discovering the Eastern Mouse Spider
A scientist named William Joseph Rainbow first described this spider in 1914. He studied a spider found in North Sydney by Henry Horton Burton Bradley. Mr. Bradley was a leader at the Australian Museum. Rainbow thought the spider was very special. He named it after Mr. Bradley to honor him.
Identifying Eastern Mouse Spiders
Eastern mouse spiders are sometimes confused with Australian funnel-web spiders. But there are ways to tell them apart.
Female Mouse Spiders
Female mouse spiders are large and very strong. They have powerful jaws called chelicerae. Their fangs often cross over slightly. Funnel-web spiders, however, usually have fangs that stay parallel. Funnel-web spiders also often have a drop of venom on their fang tips. They also have longer spinnerets, which are used for spinning silk.
Male Mouse Spiders
Male mouse spiders look a bit different. They have an all-black upper body, called a carapace. Their abdomen has a pale bluish area on top. In autumn and early winter, male spiders wander around looking for a mate. Sometimes, they accidentally fall into swimming pools while exploring.
Where Do They Live?
Eastern mouse spiders live in burrows in the ground. You can find their burrows by gently brushing away loose soil. Look for a small flap of silk. This silk flap covers the entrance to their home.
Understanding Mouse Spider Bites
If an eastern mouse spider bites someone, common symptoms can include numbness and tingling where the bite happened. People might also sweat a lot, get a headache, or feel sick to their stomach.
Are Their Bites Dangerous?
Even though this spider seems to be the most dangerous type of mouse spider, serious bites are quite rare. Most bites that doctors have seen did not need special medicine called antivenom. The symptoms were usually not very serious.
Venom and Treatment
Scientists have found that the venom of the eastern mouse spider has toxins. These toxins are similar to those found in the venom of Australian funnel-web spiders. This is good news because the antivenom used for funnel-web spider bites can also help treat severe mouse spider bites. However, eastern mouse spiders are much less aggressive towards humans than funnel-web spiders. They also often give "dry" bites, meaning they don't inject venom.
