Southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider |
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The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider (Hadronyche cerberea) is a very venomous spider. It lives in central New South Wales, Australia. This spider is known for its strong venom, but there is an antivenom that can help if someone is bitten.
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Discovering and Naming the Spider
A German scientist named Ludwig Carl Christian Koch first described this spider in 1873. He also created the group, or genus, called Hadronyche for it. The very first spider specimen he used to describe the species was unfortunately destroyed during World War II. Because of this, a new "type specimen" was chosen in 2010. This new specimen is now kept at the Australian Museum in Sydney.
What Does the Spider Look Like?
The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider has a shiny black back, which is called a carapace. Its fangs and legs are matte black or dark brown. The spider's body, or abdomen, can be light maroon-brown to dark brown.
Where Does This Spider Live?
You can find the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider in eastern Australia. It lives from the Hunter River in central New South Wales down to southern New South Wales. This spider and the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider (Hadronyche formidabilis) are special. They are the only two types of Australian funnel-web spiders that mostly live in trees.
They prefer to live in dry sclerophyll forests. In places like Tallaganda National Park, this spider lives alongside another funnel-web spider. That other spider, Atrax sutherlandi, digs burrows only in the ground. The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider, however, prefers to live in logs. Scientists have found that this spider has recently spread quickly through these areas.
How Dangerous is Its Venom?
The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider has very strong venom. Out of four known bite cases, three caused serious symptoms. The good news is that the antivenom used for the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) works well for bites from this spider too.
If someone is bitten, symptoms can start quickly, sometimes within 15 to 20 minutes. It is very important to apply pressure and a tourniquet (a tight band) to the bite area. This can slow down the venom and is a key part of first aid for a funnel-web spider bite. Even though this spider's venom is different from the Sydney funnel-web's, the symptoms are very similar.
Common symptoms include:
- Diaphoresis (lots of sweating)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Sinus tachycardia (a fast heart rate)
- Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
- Throwing up (vomiting)
- Pain where the bite happened
Sometimes, pulmonary oedema (fluid building up in the lungs) can happen early on.
