Guide to Funnel-web Spiders
Normally found in the southern hemisphere in Tasmania and coastal and
highland areas of Australia, the 36 species of funnel-web vary in sizes
from 1.5 to 4.5 centimetres. Considered one of the most poisonous
spiders in the world, their venom is enough to kill children and make
the adults severely ill. The funnel-web spiders have derived their name
from the fact that they build funnel shaped burrows.
Funnel-web spiders generally prefer moist, cool and sheltered habitat,
mostly under rocks, crevices, in and under rotting logs, rot and borer
holes in rough-barked trees. Rockeries and dense shrubberies of the
gardens are favoured places of these spiders.
 The male funnel-web spiders are more poisonous than their female
counterparts. The cases of bites rise during the mating season, when the
male funnel-web spiders search their mates and enter houses and garages.
The anti-venom for funnel web spiders was developed in 1981 and since
then no fatalities have been recorded. If you do not know about spiders
then it is better to avoid any large black spider in Australia.
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