Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
17.01.2025
Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
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For Prelims: About Sydney Funnel-Web Spider, Characteristics of the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider, About funnel-web spiders |
Why in the news?
Recently, Australian scientists have discovered a bigger, more venomous species of the Sydney funnel-web spider.
About Sydney Funnel-Web Spider:
- Scientists have named this 9-centimetre (3.54 inches) long species as Atrax christenseni.
- The new funnel-web species has earned the nickname "Big Boy" and was first discovered in the early 2000s near Newcastle, 170 km (105 miles) north of Sydney.
Characteristics of the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider:
- It is a shiny, dark brown to black spider with finger-like spinnerets (silk-spinning organs) at the end of their abdomen.
- Its venom glands are a lot larger and its fangs are a lot longer.
- Only the male Sydney funnel-web, which carries a much stronger venom, is responsible for human deaths.
- Habitat: They are found in bushy suburban areas, open and closed sclerophyll forests and woodlands, often on south or east-facing slopes or in shady gullies.
About funnel-web spiders:
- These are one of the most dangerous arachnids in the world.
- There are 36 described species of Australian funnel-web spiders and they are currently placed in three genera: Hadronyche, Atrax and Illawarra.
- Their venoms are filled with 40 different toxic proteins.
Source: India Today
Atrax christenseni, recently in news, is a:
A.Butterfly
B.Fish Species
C.Invasive Plant
D.Funnel-web Spider
Answer D