Worlds Most Venomous Spider -The Sydney Funnel-Web

The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is a species of venomous mygalomorph spider native to eastern Australia, usually found within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of Sydney. It is a member of a group of spiders known as Australian funnel-web spiders. Its bite is capable of causing serious illness or death in humans if left untreated.

The Sydney funnel-web is medium to large in size, with body length ranging from 1 to 5 cm (0.4 to 2 in). Both sexes are glossy and darkly coloured, ranging from blue-black, to black, to brown or dark-plum coloured. The carapace covering the cephalothorax is almost hairless and appears smooth and glossy. Another characteristic are finger-like spinnerets at the end of their abdomen. The shorter-lived male is smaller than the female, but longer-legged. The average leg length for the spider in general is six to seven centimeters

Sydney funnel-web spiders are mostly terrestrial spiders, favouring habitats with moist sand and clays.
Distribution is centred on Sydney, extending north to the Central Coast and south to the Illawarra region, and west to the Blue Mountains in New South Wales.

The spider can be found in moist microhabitats, including under logs and foliage.

They typically build silk-lined tubular burrow retreats with collapsed "tunnels" or open "funnel" entrances from which irregular trip-lines radiate over the ground. In some exceptions, which lack trip-lines but may have trapdoors, the silk entrance tube may be split into two openings, in a Y or T form. The spiders burrow in sheltered habitats where they can find a moist and humid climate; for instance under rocks, logs or borer holes in rough-barked trees.[10][13] The long-lived female funnel-web spend most of the time in their silk-lined tubular burrow retreats. When potential prey, which includes insects, lizards or frogs, walks across the trip-lines, they rush out, subduing their prey by injecting their venom.[10][13]

Males, recognized by the modified terminal segment of the palp, tend to wander during the warmer months of the year, looking for receptive females to mate with. This makes encounters with male specimens more likely as they sometimes wander into backyards or houses, or fall into swimming pools. The spiders can survive such immersion for up to twenty-four hours, trapping air bubbles on hairs around their abdomen. Sydney funnel-web spiders are mainly active at night, as typical day-time conditions would dehydrate them. During the day, they seek cover in cool, moist hideaways. After heavy rain, spider activity is increased as their burrows may be flooded.When threatened or provoked, funnel-web spiders will display aggressive behaviour, rearing up on their hind legs and displaying their fangs. When biting, the funnel-web spider maintains a tight grip on its victim, often biting repeatedly

[WickedWildlife]

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[pullingthestrings]

Everytime he watches the camera I'm like "dude watch your hands" 😂

[LOLmusics]

That spider was pissed off the entire video 😂

[trustypatches]

1:33
"Like this girl here"
Her: *slam* 💪😠

[johnrichmond]

When I was in the Navy, we were warned of many things when we stopped in other countries. I remember how specific the warnings were of the funnel web when we stopped in Australia

[TheWildlifeBrothers]

I had no idea that their venom was so oddly specific in which species it poses a threat to, that’s some fascinating stuff! That girl was quite cheeky, what a gorgeous and fascinating spider. I loved your takeaway at the end, just because they’re potentially deadly doesn’t mean that we can’t or shouldn’t coexist with them. Great work Nick!
- Harrison and Evan

[robertfletcher]

She sat there very calmly listening to everything you said. What a great spider.

[Prettypolly]

I’m from England but lived in Sydney for a while and this spider was always on my mind. Putting on my shoes in the morning was a nervous time! Loved my time in Australia but so glad I don’t have to deal with spiders like that anymore.

[TheLunarrr]

Currently THE best informative wildlife channel on the internet. Awesome info, awesome quality, and you get the animals out that you’re talking about.. keep up the amazing work mate you’re an Aussie icon

[gregbeck]

I grew up in pennant hills and as a plumber i used to crawl.under the floors of houses. I cane across so many funnelwebs. They arent really that aggressive but rather defensive. A few times id wake up and shake my jeans that i left on my floor of the bedroom and yep out falls a funnelweb. I never had a fear of them but rather a fascination of them. They never bothered me and i let them go on their way when i came across them. Thanks so much for the chat. I think Eric worrell had alot to do with finding an antivenom for them.

[chrislehmier]

Nick: Calmly provides comprehensive and concise description of the Sidney Funnel Web
Spider:

[Psyopcyclops]

Great video mate. You got a lot of Steve Irwin in ya I reckon. Charismatic, intelligent, passionate about our country and its wildlife, and genuinely looking to educate people. You’re a legend mate. Wish we had more like you.

[emjayw]

Excellent video, if there was ever a chanell that deserved a few million subs, this would be it. 👍👍🇦🇺

[faronanderson]

One of the most informative no BS videos I've watched about any given topic.You didn't wander off anywhere. It was just facts.

It's a great educational video.

Thumbs up 👍🏽

[BugsandBiology]

Excellent video! Great to see someone give a factual presentation on funnelwebs without all the hype.

[kellyhenderson]

This is a very defensive species. They do not want to be bugged. I kinda get how they feel. It’s tough to be an introvert. Lol

[sheilasydneynotyerbizniz]

I remember my first visit to my Aussie relatives in Sydney well: after being told about funnel webs wandering into homes, I couldn't sleep well the first night because I kept waking up checking if I felt something crawling over me.

[seasongchronicle]

Nicely done. And I really liked the message at the end...indeed all animals deserve our respect. Thank you.

[GLING]

These spiders live 20 years?! Whoa! That is amazing! 😳

[stuarteadie]

That’s right Nick they’re among us for sure. Keep your boots/shoes inside and give them a good banging before you put them on in the morning. Where we live we will come across at least half a dozen or more a year it the yard.Awareness of the habitats in the garden and around the home, correct identification and the respect to leave them be will avoid any more complications for people in the future. Also remember if you find one in the bottom of the pool and scoop him/her out and leave it sitting on the path don’t be surprised we it wakes up and starts to wander back off to its home.
Remember people PLEASE DON’T KILL SPIDERS OR SNAKES just because you come across them in your home, if it’s not safe to let them move on freely, call a professional to come out and relocate them respectfully and with minimal stress to to animal. They’re more scared of us than you think, this is why they bite in defence not because they want to harm us.