Called Hercules
An Australian funnel-web spider measuring about 8.5 centimeters has been discovered, which is larger in size than the previous record holder, and its venom is “decanted” and used for medical purposes.
The largest male of the world's most venomous arachnid, the Sydney funnel-web spider, has been transported to the Australian Reptile Park, north of Sydney. The spider will be used for scientific purposes. In the park, scientists are conducting research to develop antivenom for spiders, and the “decanted” venom of the new “giant” will help in the experiments.
Recent rainy and humid weather on the East Coast of Australia has created ideal conditions for the reproduction and growth of funnel-web spiders.
Funnel spiders are a large family consisting of more than a thousand species. The Sydney funnel-web spider is one of the most striking representatives of this family and is considered a dangerous inhabitant of Australia, capable of being the first to attack a person. It is aggressive, has long fangs and is capable of high speed. Females are larger, but males are more poisonous, scientists note. They are black, glossy, almost lint-free. They live in specially built tunnels up to 40 centimeters long, which are completely shrouded in a funnel-shaped web.
When meeting a person, the spider rises on its hind legs and bares its fangs, and then attacks and bites with lightning speed, and the amount of poison allows this to be done several times in a row. The fangs are so sharp that they can even pierce a fingernail. From the injected poison, a person immediately develops severe pain, convulsions and numbness of the limb, shortness of breath and salivation begin.
The largest male to date of the world's most venomous arachnid has found a new home at the Australian Reptile Park, where he will help save people rather than kill them. He was given the name Hercules. It was discovered by chance on the coast, about 80 kilometers north of Sydney, and was initially transferred to a local hospital, the Australian Reptile Park said in a statement. This is the largest male specimen ever found on the continent, the representative of the reserve also emphasizes. Its size significantly exceeds the park's previous record holder in 2018, a male named Colossus. It is noteworthy that the usual length of Sydney funnel-web spiders is from one to five centimeters.
“We are used to the park being given quite large funnel-web spiders, but getting such a large male is like hitting the jackpot,” explains park ranger Emma Shadows, “Although female funnel-web spiders are venomous, the males have proven to be more deadly. With a spider of this size in our collection, the venom “yield” could be enormous, which would prove incredibly valuable to the park's antivenom program.”
Since the program began in 1981 in Australia, and thanks to the results obtained by scientists, there has not been a single case of death from a funnel-web spider bite.
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