Promoted
Atrax christenseni
Female, body length 45 mm. The body position seen here in this female is not aggression but defence. When operating at such heightened levels, she has her defences fully primed and ready to go...that is indeed venom seeping from those incredible fangs. She kept this stance for a minute or so, then went about investigating quite calmly.
UPDATE January 2025: Exciting development in the world of arachnology, and on my doorstep as it were. Seven years ago almost to the day, I came across my first Sydney funnel web. Pictured here, she is in a defensive posture. This is the time of year that males will be wandering in search of the females and I'd learned of several very large specimens having been found within a 25km radius of where I live. Scientific examination (gene sequences, in combination with fine morphological detail) has shown that Atrax in this area are indeed a new species and have been named Atrax christenseni. The new species is named in honour of Kane Christensen for his dedication to documenting aspects of funnel web behaviour and collecting specimens for study. So, I have to amend my records of sightings. (Males of this new species can be separated from the Sydney funnel web and the Southern Sydney funnel web by the extra-long palpal tibia and embolus). Sadly, our eight-legged icon is in decline. Loss of habitat and illegal trafficking being cited as probable main causes. For this reason, collection sites were not included in research papers.
https://bmcecolevol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12862-024-02332-0
No species identified
The species on this photo is not identified yet. When signed in, you can identify species on photos that you uploaded. If you have earned the social image editing capability, you can also identify species on photos uploaded by others.
comments (4)
https://www.jungledragon.com/wildlife/browse/animalia/arthropoda/arachnida/araneae Posted 7 years ago
"The Sydney Funnel Web Spider (Atrax robustus) is a legendary spider that lives in Australia. As one of the world's deadliest spiders, this photo may inspire feelings of fear. But, we encourage you to view this gorgeous spider with respect and fascination rather than fear. Consider their inherent beauty, intriguing lifestyles, incredible diversity, and complex behaviors, and you will quickly find that spiders, even venomous ones, have their place in nature and deserve awe and respect.
Sydney Funnel Web Spiders are mostly sedentary, remaining in their burrows. But, they will wander (especially the males) in search of a mate. They are nocturnal and are very sensitive to sunlight. So, if a male doesn't find a mate during the night, he will seek the closest shelter to wait out the daylight hours - and, that includes hiding in people's houses and shoes. They are not actively trying to ambush anyone, rather they are just seeking a safe place to rest. When threatened or frightened, they will assume a defensive posture by rearing up on their hind legs and displaying their fangs. They defend themselves by biting repeatedly and injecting venom. Unfortunately, if the victim is a human, death can occur within 15 minutes. But, thankfully, scientists have developed antivenom, and there have not been any deaths from the bite of this species since 1981.
When encountering potentially dangerous spiders, it's best to not handle them, to give them their space, and to safely return them to their natural habitat. Remember, they are not out to get you, but are just trying to stay safe and live their lives as an intrinsically valuable part of nature. {Spotted in Australia by JungleDragon user, Ruth Spigelman} #JungleDragon"
Posted 7 years ago
It's amazing that primates are vulnerable to their venom where cats and dogs aren't bothered.
Evolution works in weird ways. Posted 7 years ago