Sydney funnel-web spider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sydney funnel-web spider |
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The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is a very venomous spider found in eastern Australia. It usually lives within about 100 kilometers (60 miles) of Sydney. This spider is part of a group called Australian funnel-web spiders. Its bite can make people very sick or even cause death if not treated quickly.
Sydney funnel-web spiders are usually between 1 to 5 centimeters (0.4 to 2 inches) long. Both male and female spiders are shiny and dark. Their colors can range from blue-black to black, or even shades of brown or dark plum.
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What is a Sydney Funnel-Web Spider?
The Sydney funnel-web spider is a well-known spider from Australia. It was first described by a scientist named Octavius Pickard-Cambridge in 1877. He gave it the name Atrax robustus. The word robustus comes from Latin and means "strong" or "sturdy."
For many years, scientists thought male and female Sydney funnel-web spiders were different species. Another scientist, William Joseph Rainbow, described the male as Euctimena tibialis and the female as Poikilomorpha montana. However, in 1927, after a young boy became very ill from a spider bite, scientists at the Australian Museum studied the spiders more closely. Anthony Musgrave realized that Euctimena tibialis was actually the male Atrax robustus. Later, in 1988, Poikilomorpha montana was also confirmed to be the same species.
The Sydney funnel-web spider is one of only three species in the Atrax group. It belongs to the family Atracidae. Along with the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web, it is one of the few Australian funnel-web spiders known to have caused fatal bites to humans.
How to Identify a Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
The Sydney funnel-web spider is a medium to large spider. Its body can be from 1 to 5 centimeters (0.4 to 2 inches) long. Both male and female spiders are glossy and dark. They can be blue-black, black, brown, or dark plum in color.
Their main body part, called the cephalothorax, is covered by a smooth, shiny shell called a carapace. A key feature is their finger-like spinnerets at the end of their abdomen. These are used to spin silk.
Male spiders are usually smaller than females but have longer legs. On average, their legs can be six to seven centimeters long.
Where Do Sydney Funnel-Web Spiders Live?
Sydney funnel-web spiders are mostly found around Sydney. Their range extends north to the Central Coast and south to the Illawarra region. They also live west into the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.
These spiders prefer moist places. You can often find them under logs, leaves, or in damp soil. They like habitats with moist sand and clay.
Spider Behavior and Habits
Sydney funnel-web spiders build silk-lined tunnels or burrows. These burrows often have funnel-shaped entrances. From these entrances, silk "trip-lines" spread out over the ground. When an insect, lizard, or frog walks over these lines, the spider rushes out. It quickly bites its prey and injects venom.
Female funnel-web spiders live for a long time. They spend most of their lives inside their silk-lined burrows. They build these homes in sheltered spots where it is moist and humid. This can be under rocks, logs, or even in holes in rough-barked trees.
Male spiders are different. They tend to wander around during warmer months. They are looking for female spiders to mate with. This is why people are more likely to see male funnel-web spiders. They might wander into backyards, houses, or even fall into swimming pools. These spiders can survive in water for up to 24 hours. They trap air bubbles on the hairs around their abdomen to breathe.
Sydney funnel-web spiders are mostly active at night. The daytime conditions would make them dry out. During the day, they hide in cool, moist places. After heavy rain, you might see more spiders. This is because their burrows can get flooded.
When these spiders feel threatened, they become aggressive. They will stand up on their back legs and show their fangs. When they bite, they hold on tightly and often bite many times.
Spider Bites and Treatment
Understanding the Venom
The venom of the Sydney funnel-web spider is very strong. It contains a special compound called Delta-Atracotoxin. This compound is very toxic to humans and other primates. However, it does not affect the nervous system of most other mammals.
Male Sydney funnel-web spiders are known to have more potent venom than females. They also tend to inject a full dose of venom when they bite. This is because they are very defensive and have large fangs. There have been no reported cases of severe bites from female Sydney funnel-web spiders.
If a person gets a severe bite, symptoms can appear very quickly. A study found that symptoms often start within 28 minutes. Children are especially at risk of severe bites. About 42% of all severe cases involve children. There is even a record of a small child becoming very ill and passing away within 15 minutes of a bite.
Symptoms of a Bite
A bite from a Sydney funnel-web spider is usually very painful right away. You can often see clear fang marks a few millimeters apart. The large fangs cause this initial pain. Sometimes, the spider will stay attached until it is shaken or flicked off.
Symptoms can include a lot of saliva, muscle twitching, and trouble breathing. The person might also become confused or disoriented. This can lead to losing consciousness.
How Bites Are Treated
A Sydney funnel-web spider bite is a serious medical emergency. It needs immediate hospital treatment. Doctors usually recommend two vials of antivenom. If the symptoms are very severe, four vials might be given. Patients are checked every 15 minutes. More antivenom is given if the symptoms do not get better. The most antivenom ever used to treat one bite was 12 vials. This happened in February 2017 to a 10-year-old boy. He was bitten by a male Sydney funnel-web hiding in his shoe.
The antivenom was created by a team led by Struan Sutherland in Melbourne. Since the antivenom became available in 1981, no one has died from a Sydney funnel-web spider bite.
In 2012, there was a shortage of antivenom. The public was asked to help catch spiders so their venom could be collected. It takes about 70 "milkings" from a Sydney funnel-web spider to make one dose of antivenom.
The Australian Reptile Park helps by collecting Sydney funnel-web spiders for their venom program. In 2016, they received a very large male spider. It had a leg span of 10 centimeters (4 inches). The park said it was the biggest specimen they had ever seen.
See also
In Spanish: Atrax robustus para niños
