Australia is known for its unique venomous spiders. For example, spider bites are the most common reason telephone calls to the Victorian Poisons Information Centre. In 1997 alone, over 1,300 of them were registered.
The most famous of them, Sydney leucoweb spider(Sydney funnel-web spider of the family Atrax robustus et Hadronyche infensa), previously lived exclusively in the capital of the 2000 Olympics, Sydney, and is now found in the state of Queensland between Brisbane and the city of Gympie and even on Fraser Island. . It belongs to the most dangerous spiders in the world. Cases of children dying within two hours after being bitten by male spiders of this species are described (the bite of a female spider of this species does not cause serious illness). These large (up to 7 cm long "with legs") black spiders have very long paired spinning organs at the end of the abdomen. They weave (as their name suggests) a watering-shaped or tube-like web and live in a burrow up to 40 cm deep. They are very aggressive and are always ready to attack. Their massive fangs can even bite through children's nails Unfortunately, mature males leave their burrows and begin to travel, often "visiting" human homes, especially after a summer rainstorm. These spiders cannot climb into a bed or onto a table using a smooth metal or wooden leg, but they can "climb" " into your clothes or towels if you are in the habit of throwing them on the floor.
Fortunately, in most cases, these spiders do not release enough venom when they bite to cause serious illness. Consistent signs of poisoning are local (local) muscle twitching, then the entire affected limb, then the tongue and lips; increased salivation and lacrimation (tear production); piloerection (hair stands on end); dyspnea; the person then becomes disorientated and falls into a coma. The principles of first aid are the same as for snake bites. Australian scientists have found an effective antidote, but it is very important to bring the culprit himself to the hospital for questioning. A close relative of this spider, the Northern or tree-dwelling funnel-web spider - Hadronyche formidabilis, has an even more dangerous venom, but very rarely bites people, as it lives in trees in the forests of north-eastern New South Wales and south-east Queensland.
But the most common culprits of dangerous spider bites are female red-back spiders (Latrodectus mactans hasseltii). Hundreds of people across Australia are introduced to their "fangs" every year, especially in the summer. Females spin their unsightly webs in quiet, dark corners under houses, garages, gardens and outdoor toilets. They have a characteristic satin-black abdomen, about 1 cm in diameter, with an orange-red (sometimes light gray) stripe. Unlike its relative, the Sydney leukopaweb, these spiders are non-aggressive and most often bite when people put on their old clothes, in which these spiders can simply “relax”. For the first few minutes, the bite site stings, like after a regular insect bite, but then the pain gradually increases and spreads to all parts of the body, nausea, vomiting, headaches and abdominal pain appear. 
Death can occur due to the nerve-paralytic effect of the poison (the respiratory muscles stop working). A pathognomaniac (specific only to the bite of this type of spider) clinical sign is profuse sweating of the affected limb. Fortunately, the full clinical picture of poisoning develops very slowly (over several hours or even days), and there is always enough time to use a specific antidote. Unlike the bites of the Sydney leukopachine, a local bandage is not applied, however, a cellophane bag with ice can reduce the pain at the site of the bite (analgesic tablets - painkillers) will also be useful.
Dozens of species of “wolf spiders” (genus Lycosa) live in the suburbs of Australian cities. They are very common in gardens, where they hunt flies among old fallen leaves. These spiders are relatively not large sizes and not aggressive. However, gardeners often fall into the field of their life interests. Bites from these spiders can cause local necrosis (death) and swelling of the skin. Very painful ulcers sometimes appear at the bite sites. They are tried to be treated with antibiotics, local and systemic vasodilators, and hyperbaric oxygenation, but such wounds heal very slowly. Similar wounds also appear from the bites of small (up to one and a half centimeters long) white-tailed spiders (white-tailed spider - Lampona cylindrata), which often pay visits to the homes of Australians.
As you know, not everything that comes from America is the best or vital for other countries. This can be confirmed by American hermit spiders (recluse or fiddleback spider - family Loxosceles), which were discovered in Australia in 1976, and since then they have spread throughout the Australian continent. They also cause local skin necrosis that does not heal for a long time.
Another very common uninvited inhabitant is the black House spider (Baduma insignis). This small brown-black or gray spider spins thick gray webs in the corners of windows. Its bites can also cause severe pain, sweating, general weakness and sometimes vomiting. Whatever spider bites you, he (or she) should be caught, “arrested,” put in a jar and consult a doctor. Mouse spiders (mouse spider - genus Missulena), capable of flying on a web, are very common in Australia and also have dangerous poison, at least for children.
For any spider bites, painkillers, antihistamines and vaccinations against tetanus are often prescribed.
Any big spiders, and even completely non-poisonous ones, can climb into your loosely closed car (or through the ventilation system) and then, while the car is moving, suddenly jump on you or start running over your legs, in search of salvation... It is believed that they may have become causes of some fatal road accidents in which drivers suddenly drove at high speed into oncoming traffic. Yes, on east coast Australia is home to a completely harmless, but large and furry hasty hunter or giant crab spider (scuttling huntsman or giant crab spider - Isopeda), who loves to hide in rainy weather in houses and cars. Some people call it a tarantula, although it has nothing in common with the spiders that bear the same name in America or Asia.
In Australia great amount various insects, and spiders occupy not the least place among them. Among them there are both poisonous species and completely harmless ones. Australian spiders found notoriety thanks, among other things, to cinema - one of the “photogenic” representatives of the spider world of Australia, Huntsman spider, along with tarantulas, is often “starred” in films. Although the “actor” himself, for all his terrifying appearance, gained fame as a home assistant by catching annoying insects. The spider world of the green continent is rich and diverse, although the largest spider in Australia is not at all the most dangerous, and the most dangerous spider may even seem very cute to some.
Few people like spiders, but since you can’t avoid meeting them in Australia, let’s figure out what you really should be wary of, how to protect yourself and what to do if...
There are many different rumors about Australian spiders. Some of them are true, but most of them are fiction and speculation. Let's look at the most common ones.
Spiders are everywhere in Australia
This is true. The nature of Australia is rich and diverse, it developed in isolation from the rest of the world and in many ways differs from what we are used to. There are a great variety of insects here, many of them are unique and live only on the Australian continent. For residents of Australia, it is common to wake up in the morning and see a furry monster on the ceiling. Spiders not only live in the wild, but also thrive in basements or attics of residential buildings, in the garden or in a city park. But you shouldn't be afraid of them at all. The most common and frequently visited human home is the Huntsman spider. Like other spiders in Australia, this representative also uses venom when biting, but it is not fatal. Although the bite and consequences will be quite painful, you should not be afraid of it also because he himself prefers not to attack, but to run away from a person. Huntsman is often confused with tarantulas, but despite the frightening appearance, the benefits of being close to him are obvious - he catches insects in houses, which are also abundant.
Australian spiders are huge
Not certainly in that way. Due to their diversity, Australian spiders vary in both size and appearance. The largest spider in Australia is the same Huntsman; its size can reach 25 cm (including legs). But it is difficult to find such a representative; usually their size is no larger than the palm of an adult. But a really dangerous spider is the redback redback (Latrodectus hasselti), with a body size of only 3-4 mm.
Australian spiders are deadly
It is a myth. Of the several thousand representatives of the spider world, only 2 are truly dangerous spiders in Australia - the Sydney funnel-web spider ( Sydney Funnel web spider) and Redback ( Redback, Latrodectus hasselti). The bites of male specimens of these spiders are dangerous to humans; their venom is neurotoxic and causes severe pain. But we hasten to reassure you - since 1956, not a single fatal case of a Redback bite has been recorded, and since 1980, not a single fatality from a Fannel bite has been recorded. Moreover, today antivenoms have been developed and are available in any medical institution. So there is no need to be afraid of poisonous Australian spiders! In Australia, their bites are not considered anything special and every year about 2,000 people go to medical facilities with complaints of bites. But antidotes are used only in cases of clearly observable consequences, since often, for example, Funnel bites without introducing poison and then such a bite does not pose a danger. If the spider managed to inject poison, then it is important to provide first aid and rush to the doctor. The bite site must be tightly bandaged, thereby reducing the risk of rapid spread of the poison, and the victim must be kept motionless. For bites from other spiders, there is no need to bandage the area; applying an ice pack will provide noticeable relief. It is important to take the “culprit” with you when visiting the medical center. office. Fortunately, in most cases, spider bites do not release a large amount of poison and the consequences develop slowly enough to have time to administer an antidote.
Forewarned is forearmed. Now you know that spiders in Australia are not particularly dangerous, and our Russian-speaking guides will help you how to get along with them and temporarily coexist with them.
Rain of spiders in Australia
In May and August in Australia you can encounter unusual phenomenon, which few people will like or delight. In clear, warm weather, it suddenly starts raining spiders! Spiders fall from the sky like snowflakes, caught by gusts of wind, fly from tree to tree, entwining everything around, including bystanders, with their web. As scientists say, this is a kind of spider way of traveling. Using webs and wind, spiders migrate to new territories. Climbing to the top of trees, they weave an elastic web, which is picked up by the wind and, together with the owner, is carried over long distances. Thus, spiders can fly to a height of up to 3 km and cover enormous distances. Having studied this phenomenon, scientists were able to explain the phenomenon of why spiders become the first living inhabitants on islands that arise as a result of volcanic activity. By the way, parachuting spiders from Australia sometimes even reach Antarctica, although, unfortunately, they die immediately.
Today, about forty-two thousand species of spiders live in the world. The length of the smallest of them known to science - Patu marplesi - is less than 0.4 millimeters, that is, it is impossible to see it with the naked eye. On average, the size of these animals usually varies from four to six centimeters. However, in nature there are also giant spiders, each species of which is interesting in its own way.
Teraphosa Blonda - the largest spider on Earth
Most arachnologists involved in the study of spiders and arachnids agree that the largest body size of all today existing species These animals have the goliath tarantula, also known as Blonde's Theraphosa. The body color of this spider is usually reddish-brown; there are numerous reddish hairs on the legs.
The most giant spider in the world lives in wet swamps and tropical forests in a number of countries in South America: Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, Brazil. The length of its body is 7-9 centimeters, and the leg span of the largest discovered specimen reached 28 centimeters.
This spider is mistakenly called a tarantula. Its diet actually consists of mice, small snakes, lizards, butterflies and beetles. He lies in wait for his prey, then suddenly jumps on it, using his fangs.
The venom of this spider, which paralyzes small animals, is actually of little danger to humans, like the sting of an ordinary bee. As a rule, he does not attack people, except in those cases when he himself is forced to defend himself from them.
IN natural environment The goliath tarantula lives in burrows that previously belonged to small rodents. In captivity, it is rarely found, since its export from the territory of its habitat countries is, as a rule, prohibited.
Heteropoda Maxima - the longest-legged spider
The Goliath tarantula can rightfully be called the largest spider in the world, based on the size of its body and weight. However, it will compete with a giant hunting spider, or Heteropoda Maxima - the owner of the most long length in leg span. This figure for an adult male of this species can be 25-30 centimeters!
These spiders live mainly in Laos, preferring deep and dark caves, from where they rarely come to the surface of the earth. Their bodies, relatively small in size (up to 3 centimeters in males and 4.5 in females), are colored brown-yellow, the abdomen is somewhat darker than the cephalothorax.
Today, science knows very little about them, but they continue to be studied.
Australian record holder - giant crab spider
The honor of being called the largest arachnid on the Australian continent belongs to the giant crab spider. Its name is associated with the specific bending of the legs, characteristic of crabs (in some specimens their span sometimes reaches 30 centimeters). In another way, these spiders are called hunters, or huntsmen.
As a rule, the color of these creatures is black, brown or gray. The body is fluffy, and the spines are clearly visible on the legs. They live under the roots and on tree trunks, as well as in mountain crevices, between stones, and on the walls of houses. They feed mainly on insects, small lizards and frogs. These giant spiders are capable of chasing their prey along the ground at high speed before sinking their fangs into it and immobilizing it with venom.
Their toxin is moderately dangerous to humans. As a rule, painful swelling occurs at the site of the bite, sometimes accompanied by nausea and headache, but the poison does not pose a threat to human life.
Nephila - the world's most gigantic web-spinning spiders
Translated from Latin, the word Nefila means “one who loves to weave.” This name is given to the oldest species of spider known today. The size of their body is not amazing - it does not exceed 4 centimeters. But the leg span of the largest individuals reaches 15 centimeters, which makes Nephil the largest of the spiders capable of weaving a web.
The distribution area of various species of these spiders is huge. They are found in Australia, South America, Asia and Africa.
The networks that these skilled craftsmen “weave” have truly incredible properties. Exceptionally durable and sticky lace with a characteristic golden tint can cover areas of up to two meters. Their strength is so great that they are able to capture and hold even a bat, a small snake or a bird.
The rather strong venom of Nephila spiders is dangerous for people, especially those prone to allergies, but it does not lead to death. Characteristic symptoms- redness of the skin, blisters and pain - usually disappear within a day from the moment of the bite.
The Brazilian wanderer is one of the most poisonous spiders
Characteristics of the Brazilian wandering spider - aggressive behavior and extremely toxic poison. Its bite can cause severe poisoning and paralysis, and in the absence of the necessary help will lead to the death of a person. This is why the Brazilian wanderers have gained a bad reputation as giant killer spiders. However, with timely provision of the necessary assistance, serious consequences can still be avoided.
These giant spiders (see photo below) sometimes reach 10 centimeters in length. Their body is elongated, brown, completely covered with small hairs.
Brazilian wanderers do not weave webs and do not have a permanent habitat - they are always in search of their prey. They are found in the tropics and subtropics South America. They are also called “armed spiders” (because of their strong venom and powerful mouthparts) or “banana spiders” (because they can often be stumbled upon among the leaves of banana palms). They hunt at night, mainly on insects. However, they can also cope with some reptiles and birds that are larger than them.
Cerbalus Arabian - a newly discovered giant spider
These giant spiders became known to scientists relatively recently. Some sources indicate that they were opened in 2004, others that this happened in 2010. The countries in whose territory cerbals were discovered were Jordan and Israel, which determined the peculiarity of the name of this species - “Arabian”.
The appearance of spiders of this species is very interesting: their body is painted in a beautiful yellowish or silver color, and their long legs shimmer in the light with silver and black shades. The largest specimens of the Arabian cerbal sometimes reach 8 inches in length.
Currently, this species of spider has been poorly studied. It is known that cerbals prefer to live on the edges of salt marshes and sand dunes. They are characterized by night look life, and activity is associated mainly with the hot season.
Tegenaria wall - record holder in sprinting
Another name for wall tegenaria is the giant house spider. The length of her body is about seven centimeters, and her leg span is approximately three times this value. It is not surprising that among arachnids, tegenaria are considered exceptionally fast runners over short distances.
The distribution range of this type of spider is Asia, northern Africa. They are also found in some places in Europe (for example, in England, tegenaria is often called the “cardinal spider,” allegedly because the British Cardinal Wolsey was once horrified by it).
An interesting fact is that although these giant spiders produce webs, they are completely incapable of deftly swaddling prey into a cocoon. Instead, they simply release it in a very thick and even layer. It is curious that in competition for prey, tegenaria enters into battle with its fellows, often even killing them. Cannibalism is also common among these spiders.
Tegenaria's favorite habitats are caves and walls of abandoned houses. Today there are very few of these spiders left in nature.
South Russian tarantula - the largest spider in Russia
Mizgir, or South Russian tarantula, characteristic representative family of wolf spiders. The body size of the female of this spider reaches three centimeters (the male's body is slightly shorter). The span of its legs, however, is considerable - 10-11 centimeters. It is widespread not only in Russia, but also in Central Asia.
Mizgir is characterized by shallow burrows in the sand or in the ground, which this spider digs itself and lines the inside with cobwebs. He spends daylight hours in them, but at night he can go out to hunt on the surface. Excellently sensing vibrations, the mizgir senses when a small insect approaches its shelter. Letting the prey approach close quarters, the spider instantly rushes at her and kills her. In winter, he deepens the hole and fills the entrance with earth.
This tarantula practically does not bite people. If a bite occurs, the pain and consequences are comparable to a hornet sting.
The Japanese spider crab is the largest arthropod on the planet
In fact, nothing connects sea spiders with arachnids. This special class arthropods, numbering more than a thousand species. And the largest of them is considered to be a giant sea spider that lives off the coast. Pacific Ocean near Japan, at various depths. The body size of the largest representatives of this species exceeds 30 centimeters, and the span of their claws is truly enormous - it can reach 270 centimeters in length! The body weight of this arthropod can be twenty kilograms.
The spider crab feeds mainly on mollusks, as well as the remains of dead animals. There is an assumption that he can live for about a hundred years.
From all continents globe Australia is perhaps the most amazing and mysterious. Due to its remoteness from other continents, Australia has developed a unique animal and vegetable world. Of all the diversity of Australian fauna, today we will consider spiders, of which there are more than 10,000 species on the Green Continent. Not all spiders in Australia are poisonous, and carry mortal danger for a person, but meeting them always causes anxiety and wariness even among those who do not suffer from arachnophobia.
Huntsman Spider
This type of spider is quite widespread throughout the Australian continent and can be found everywhere. Sometimes they get into the houses of Australians, which causes a lot of trouble for the owners.
A typical large Huntsman spider moves quite quickly, and is capable of covering a distance of one meter in one second. Its size, together with its paws, reaches a diameter of 15 cm, but, despite its terrifying size, they are practically harmless.
They prefer to openly hunt their victims rather than from ambush, as many of their brethren do. They are distinguished by non-aggressive behavior and are mainly nocturnal. Note that in 2016, the largest spider in the world, belonging specifically to this type of spider, was discovered in Australia.
Nephilic orb weavers
The spiders, collectively known as Nephila, which is Latin for “weaving-loving”, are known by a variety of names in Australia. They are called and Banana spiders, and golden weavers, and due to their large size you can often hear the name - large tree spider.
Relatively small in size, the spiders, growing from 2 to 4 cm, skillfully weave webs, which sometimes even trap small birds. Their venom is strong enough to kill prey, but is completely harmless to humans.
Interestingly, fishermen weave nets from representatives of the genus Nephila, and thus catch fish on the ocean coast.
Black house spider
The name of this spider already indicates that they can often be found in residential areas. Badumna insignis is found throughout Australia and spends most of its time in its funnel-shaped web.
They usually live on tree trunks, under stones or on the walls of house buildings. In houses they set up their own web traps near windows or doorways. But you can also find cobwebs in the corners of the room.
It will never attack a person first, but after the bite a groove remains, and the bite site is accompanied by painful swelling.
Mouse spider
The mere appearance of this spider can cause awe, and most importantly, frighten even the bravest daredevil. This is one of the representatives of the large Missulena species, and these spiders are distributed throughout Australia.
They live in the ground, digging small holes for themselves, but, interestingly, they make two entrances, thus ensuring their safety. The strong jaws and strong legs of mouse spiders allow them to hunt fauna representatives much larger than themselves.
Their bite is painful, and the injected venom can harm human health, but pharmacists have long come up with a successful antidote.
Wolf spider
A spider lives in the vastness of Australia and has such an exotic name, although it is known to science as Lycosidae, which literally means “wolf” from ancient Greek.
The length of the body does not exceed 30 mm, and you can meet this amazing spider with long legs in any corner of Australia. They feed on beetles, but are not averse to eating flies if they catch them.
Calm, non-aggressive predators living in burrows rarely attack people. But in moments of danger they can bite painfully, although the poison released during the bite is not dangerous to human life.
Mason spider
They are also called digger spiders, as they dig holes in the ground and, camouflaging them, wait for their prey to be ambushed. They belong to atypical tarantulas and have quite toxic poison.
They grow from 1.5 to 3 cm and lead a measured lifestyle, rarely attacking humans. Males can show some aggression, but only in moments of danger. When bitten, local swelling occurs, and sometimes the poison, if it enters the human body, can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
They are social animals and live mostly in colonies.
White tail spider
This amazing spider with a white spot on a reddish-brown belly. In Australia, there are two species of similar spiders, which are scientifically named Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina.
It is quite difficult to distinguish them without special training, and perhaps many of the species are simply not identified. White-tailed spiders do not weave webs, but pursue prey at night.
One of the few Australian spiders that eat their own kind, and the list of their victims is topped by the black house spider.
Jumping spiders
Unusual animals from the huge family of araneomorphic spiders have adapted to live in any natural zone and climatic conditions. For this reason, they literally occupied the entire country.
They are distinguished by good eyesight, which helps them hunt, looking out for prey. Of course, how can you see poorly if you have 8 eyes, located in three rows?
The eyes also serve for navigation in habitats. Jumping spiders vary in body color, and adult specimens do not grow more than 4 centimeters in diameter.
Australian tarantulas
Tarantulas are found on many continents of the planet, but it is in Australia that these spiders are the largest. Together with their paws, some species reach 23 cm in length, and their fangs grow up to 1 cm and have a rather menacing and frightening appearance.
The most unique species is Selenocosmia, locally called the "Queensland whistling tarantula" because it makes an unusual hissing sound.
As you can see in the photo, this type of hairy spider, like all tarantulas, grows to impressive sizes, and their bite, although not fatal to humans, is quite painful and causes discomfort.
Loxosceles
The terrifying appearance of this recluse spider and its photographs on the Internet have given rise to a stereotype about the danger of the Loxosceles species. But, as scientists assure, this creature with long legs and a small body is not that dangerous.
True, after its bite, the wounds take a long time to heal, and the poison is toxic and leads to allergies. But these spiders rarely attack people, and so far no victims of a Loxosceles bite have been recorded in Australia.
In addition, this species is small in number; hermit spiders live only in certain areas of the mainland, far from populated areas, so meeting them is very difficult.
More recently, it was discovered in Australia the new kind spiders, which received the Latin name Dolomedes briangreenei. This is the only one so far famous spider in Australia, who can swim and skillfully hunt fish.
Scientists have found that it prefers to live on the shores of freshwater bodies of water and streams near Brisbane. In the same Australian city, a new spider was introduced to the world.
With the help of its hind pair of paws, it quickly moves along the surface of the water, and when it sees prey, it immediately dives and captures its victim. Then he pulls the fish ashore, and only, already on the ground, eats the prey.
Redback spider
Among the poisonous spiders, a special place on the Australian continent is occupied by the red-backed spider, known to science under the Latin name Latrodectus hasselti.
It can be easily distinguished by the characteristic red stripe running along the upper surface of the body. It has the most powerful venom of all Australian spiders. The bite causes systemic damage and in some cases can lead to death.
This beautiful but dangerous spider is on the list of animals that exhibit sexual cannibalism. After mating, the female eats her partner to restore energy for bearing eggs.
Tree Funnel Spider
This species of spider, which has the Latin name Hadronyche formidabilis, lives in northern regions continent, and is characterized by quite impressive size up to 5 cm and toxic 2 poison.
After a bite, severe intoxication of the human body occurs, and statistics show that every year 30-40 people are attacked by this aggressive spider.
The spider feeds on everything that lives near its habitat, and can even eat frogs. But the main diet consists of beetles and other small insects.
Sydney leukoweb spider
One of the most dangerous spiders on the planet is the Sydney leukopaweb - sole representative genus Atrax.
It has a very aggressive disposition, and unlike its relatives, who would prefer to avoid confrontation, this spider will attack and strive to bite. In addition, he has fangs with which he bites into his prey.
There have been several cases in history where, after being bitten by this spider, a person died within 30 minutes. But today there is an antidote that has reduced the risk of death.
Truly, Australia amazing country, and, as we see, is home to many species of various spiders. They can be found in the most unusual places. So on YouTube you can find a video in which Australia found an indestructible spider in the toilet that remained alive even after several flushes.
The purpose of our review was to show that Australian spiders are not as dangerous as they are sometimes imagined, because the latter fatal outcome from a spider bite on the continent was officially registered back in 1981.
Australia is famous for being home to some of the deadliest creatures on the planet. The sea is full of man-eating sharks, on land there are many poisonous snakes and there is even a bird that can kill a person, of course, it cannot fly, but you can guess who it is. However, Australia is famous for its diversity of our friends, the eight-legged spiders. If you're an arachnophobe, Australia and its 10,000 species of spiders might make you a little uncomfortable.
In reality, not all venomous spiders are capable of biting a person or even causing any potential risk. In fact, according to statistics, Australian spiders are not that dangerous; the last recorded death from a spider bite occurred in 1981. Now compare the mortality rate from attacks, for example, by wombats!
Now, armed with the facts, you understand that you shouldn’t be afraid of spiders at all. But, nevertheless, let us introduce you to ten not so deadly spiders Australia.
10. Common orb-weaving spiders
Photo. Common orb weaving spider
The name of the spider itself says a lot about this spider. It is very common in Australian gardens where it spins intricate webs, the word "orb weavers" refers to the way these spiders weave their webs in a circle. They differ from other spiders by their bulky belly and meticulousness in weaving webs; there are about 100 varieties of them. Unlike the common cross, the overseas eriophora (Eriophora transmarina) is nocturnal, often making its nets near night lights that attract insects.
Orb-weaving spiders are often called garden spiders because it is in the garden that they are most often found, spinning a new web every night, often in places we might least expect. They will hunt until the morning, after which they rise and hide under foliage or in other places that will provide them with temporary shelter, like the eaves of your house. If you find their large and empty web during the day, then you can easily find the place where the spider is hiding by following a thread leading from the middle of the web to a secluded place.
These spiders are large, hairy and harmless, although the bite can sometimes be painful. They are mostly gray or brown, but can also be orange, black and white, or white. Since they make a new web every night, you can get a good chance of watching them weave it.
Despite being nocturnal, it is one of the most commonly encountered spiders in Australia. He is not aggressive at all and will retreat or play dead if he feels threatened. However, this large spider is capable of attacking and biting a person. In fact, Eriophora overseas accounts for more spider bites than any other species. Fortunately, the bite is quite weak and as a result, local pain, numbness and swelling at the site of the bite may appear for some time.
9. Huntsman Spider
Photo. Huntsman Spider
The Huntsman spider is a typical large, hairy, fast-moving spider (it can cover 1 meter in a second) that can really scare arachnophobes. Australia is home to about 155 species of huntsman spiders. They can reach up to 15 cm (6 in) in diameter with legs and are commonly seen running along walls. As the name "hunter" suggests, they do not use ambushes on their prey like tarantulas, but use speed.
The spider usually lives under loose bark of trees, under stones, in cracks and under leaves. These spiders can be social animals and can sometimes be seen in dozens sitting next to each other on dead trees or stumps.
These spiders are active at night and are found throughout Australia and generally do not bother anyone except people who are afraid of spiders! Although they may bite, they are usually not aggressive, except when the female is guarding her eggs.
Video. Huntsman spider runs towards the camera
The bite is quite painful, but not dangerous. It may cause some systemic effects such as nausea, headache and rapid heartbeat, but obviously not tissue necrosis.
Perhaps the biggest danger posed by huntsman spiders is their habit of getting into cars. Sudden Appearance big spider behind the sun visor or a spider running across the dashboard has allegedly led to several car accidents.
This spider was also distinguished by its incredibly huge size. The chilling image, which shows the world's largest huntsman spider perched on a broom, was taken at an animal rescue farm in Queensland's Brisbane Valley.
Photo. A huge huntsman spider crawls on a broom in Queensland
Photo. Selfie with a large huntsman spider in Australia
Rescuers have named this spider Charlotte, and for some people it may actually seem like a nightmare they see in their dreams. Pictures of this spider were taken in October 2015, but only surfaced in early November 2016. in social networks, where they spread like wildfire.
Some commenters were scared by the size of this spider and left disturbing responses under the photos, here is one of them: “100% approve and respect what you are doing here, but please for the love of God keep this thing and all his family and friends, damn it. away from me."
Others were surprised by the clumsy-looking arachnid, suggesting that it was rare for them to grow to such a large size: “He’s huge, how did he get like that... in fact, it’s not at all normal for hunting spiders to grow so big.”
Photo. A man drowns his car after a huntsman spider fell into his lap.
These spiders are notorious for popping out from under your car's dashboard at inopportune times, sometimes with disastrous results. Most notably, on November 1, 2016, a huntsman spider fell into a driver's lap, causing the man to accidentally step on the gas and drive the car into Lake Cathie in New South Wales.
8. Mygalomorph spiders
Photo. Representative of mygalomorph spiders
These ambush spiders (often called trap spiders) from the Misgolas family have the ability to attack those who unwittingly disturb them. Being quite scary in appearance, this spider is often confused with the infamous and very dangerous Sydney leucopachine spider. Fortunately, mygalomorph spiders are not as venomous as the Sydney leukoweb spider. The bite is undoubtedly painful, but nothing will happen, the usual swelling and minor systemic symptoms characteristic of spider bites will appear.
This is usually a shy spider, but sometimes if someone wanders near its burrow, it will stand on hind legs and show your fangs. They spend most of their time in their burrows. At night, they wait for their prey at the entrance to the hole. Spiders dig holes, lining them with silk from the inside. The burrows can be up to 25 centimeters deep and about 2 centimeters wide.
These spiders feed on a variety of pests and other arthropods. If someone runs near his hole, he jumps on the prey, neutralizes fast-acting poison and then pulls the prey into the hole. They help control insect populations by killing insects and other arthropods like beetles, cockroaches, crickets, woodlice, spiders and even butterflies that get too close to the burrow entrance.
In wet weather, adult males wander in search of a mate. Mating takes place in the female's burrow. Usually the male eludes the female to avoid being eaten; males may have time to mate with several females before dying. The eggs are stored in the female's burrow in a cocoon. After hatching, the spiderlings remain in the hole for some time, after which they disperse.
7. Black house spider
Photo. Black house spider
The black house spider (lat. Badumna insignis), as its name suggests, often lives indoors. It is found throughout Australia and reaches a maximum size of 30mm.
They build an intricate funnel-shaped web in which they spend most of their time waiting for their meal. The female spider never leaves the web unless forced to do so. They are very territorial animals by location, they rarely change the position of their webs, which is why old webs can be quite dirty, often with small objects and dust stuck in them and it is for this reason that they often come into contact with people, i.e. e. when you pass a rag through dusty places. At night, the spider goes out to “repair” the web and often simply adds new threads on top of the old ones.
Black house spiders are usually not aggressive and will not bite unless they are irritated. Although they are not considered dangerous spiders, the bite of a black house spider will appear as a groove. The bite itself is described as quite painful with subsequent swelling at the site of the bite. Systemic symptoms may then follow, such as the usual nausea, sweating, vomiting, breathing problems, muscle pain, etc., but these symptoms are only temporary. In rare cases, mild necrosis causes skin damage, but this is only after a few bites.
6. White-tailed spider
Photo. White tail spider
In Australia, the two most commonly found species of white-tailed spiders are Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina. The two species are not easily distinguished from each other without microscopic examination. They are slender, dark red spiders with a cigar-shaped body and dark orange-brown legs. On the belly there are two faint white spots and a pronounced White spot at the very tip of the belly.
The similarities have led people to believe that there is only one species of white-tailed spider. It is possible that not all whitetail species have been identified. Description, whitetail, applies to various types Spiders that have a white mark on their abdomen as a distinctive feature will have the other markings disappear as they age, but the white tail remains when the spiders become adults.
You know, the white-tailed spider can be very tough, it is even capable of hunting some of the spiders on this list. They do not weave webs, but instead stalk their prey at night, their favorite favorite time day is the black house spider.
White-tailed spiders are quite common and can be found almost everywhere in Australia. They have a habit of traveling and often hide in the folds of clothes, towels and shoes. This inevitably increases the number of contacts with humans and explains why they are mentioned in spider bite statistics.
The bite itself is a matter of debate. Previously, it was widely reported that the bite of these spiders causes necrosis, i.e. death of surrounding tissue, resulting in large open ulcers. But it is now being reported that a white-tailed spider bite can result in localized pain and swelling, possibly with some mild systemic effects, as reported in the latest case of a man being bitten by a white-tailed spider and having two legs amputated. But experts assure that the culprit is not a spider bite, but Bairnsdale ulcer (Buruli ulcer).
5. Australian Tarantulas (Selenocosmia, Selenotholus, Selenotypus and Phlogiellus)
Photo. Representative of Australian tarantulas
It's no surprise that Australian tarantulas are the largest spiders in Australia. With limbs reaching over 22 cm (9 inches) and frightening fangs of up to 1 cm, these spiders are adapted to hunt quite large prey. They also have the most long life Among the spiders of Australia, some females lived up to 30 years (unfortunately, males only lived up to 8 years).
There are several groups of spiders, here called tarantulas: Selenocosmia, Selenotholus, Selenotypus, and Phlogiellus. Selenocosmia (as pictured above), also known as the "Queensland whistling tarantula" or "barking spider", it makes a hissing noise, which is why it was called so.
For one species alone, tarantulas deserve to be in the TOP 10. But as we all know, these big spiders have strong bite. Given their large fangs, like some snakes, this will hurt. The venom is not as strong as some of the spiders on this list, but it can result in some severe systemic effects such as vomiting within 6 hours. Spiders represent great danger for animals and their bite has been reported to be fatal to cats and dogs.
4. Loxosceles (hermit spiders)
Photo. Recluse spider
The recluse spider (Loxosceles) is quickly becoming one of the most feared arachnids on the planet. There are numerous images, as well as bite effects, circulating on the Internet, but this is one of the rather harmless species of spiders. The carnivorous properties of its venom have attracted attention. Bites resulting in large areas of skin and flesh being destroyed are not uncommon. These injuries are known to be slow to heal and may require skin grafts. In the worst cases, the limb is amputated and many deaths around the world are attributed to recluse spiders.
There are even reports that some insecticides do not take them, which only makes them more poisonous and aggressive!
Okay, is this bad news? Fortunately, recluse spiders are not known to be aggressive and their bites are rare. Small fangs also limit their ability as a venomous species. Additionally, most bites are fairly inconspicuous and result in only minor symptoms.
The really good news for Australians is that many species of recluse spiders are quite small in size and are not as common as reported. There have been no reports of bites in Australia in the last 20 years.
3. Mouse Spider
Photo Red-headed mouse spider
The photo above will be enough to convince you that these spiders are really serious guys. The red-headed mouse spider is the most common of the ten Missulena species. When hiding, the mouse spider creates two passages to provide itself with a safe exit if something threatens it. Males are known to wander throughout the summer and fall, especially after rain. Females typically remain within or near their burrows throughout their lives. Being slow spiders, they are rarely aggressive.
Mouse spiders can be found in open forest in semi-arid areas where shrubs grow. They are quite common throughout Australia and live in burrows in the ground as trap spiders, often along the banks of rivers, streams and other water sources, and are sometimes found in suburban gardens. The spider's strong jaws and venom allow them to kill prey larger than themselves, such as small lizards, mammals and frogs.
Therefore, it is not surprising, but mouse spiders can cause unpleasant pain when bitten. The toxicity of the venom varies between species, but there are reports that the strongest of them is as dangerous as the venom of the Sydney funnel-web spider. So you can rest assured that the antivenom used for Sydney funnel web spider bites is also effective for mouse spider bites.
2. Red-backed spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
Photo. Redback spider
The redback spider is one of Australia's most iconic venomous spiders. Instantly recognizable by the red stripe on its abdomen, you won't be able to confuse it with other spiders. This spider is a member of the Latrodectus family, along with the equally infamous black widows, and they are very similar in appearance. What is most worthy of your attention is the strength of the venom - it is the most powerful venom among Australian spiders. The effects of this powerful poison range from localized pain to a systemic condition known as latrodectism. Symptoms: pain and swelling spreading from the affected area, abdominal pain, nausea and sweating, etc. This condition occurs in about half of bites and can be fatal in the elderly and very young. Within an hour, the victim usually experiences more severe local pain with focal swelling.
The redback spider is one of the few arachnids that typically exhibits sexual cannibalism during mating. In about two out of three cases, the female completely eats the male during mating. Males that are not completely eaten soon die from their wounds after mating. Sacrifice during mating is believed to provide two advantages to the males. Firstly, the process of eating allows them to long period copulate and thus fertilize more eggs. Secondly, a female who has eaten a male is more likely to refuse subsequent suitors. Although this is a major setback for the male as he will no longer be able to mate, this is not a major disadvantage as these spiders are rare enough that only 20% of males will ever find a potential mate in their lifetime, in any case the male is functionally sterile if he During the first mating, he used the contents of both paired palps.
Unlike many of the other spiders on this list, the redback spider's bite is quite common. It is estimated that these spiders bite between 2,000 and 10,000 people every year. It is even more worrying a large number of bites in the genitals, which is why in Australia courtly built toilets are being replaced by indoor toilets.
Fortunately, there is an effective antidote for redback spider bites. When it was developed in the 1950s, there has not been a single bite that has resulted in human death since then. However, it should be avoided!
1. Sydney leucopaweb (funnel web) spider
Photo. Sydney funnel web spider
The Sydney funnel web spider (Atrax robustus) is arguably the most dangerous spider in the world. Aggressiveness and his ability to instill terror in a number of cases led to death. There are several factors that make the funnel web spider worthy of its place in the hall of fame. First of all, they are aggressive. While the vast majority of spiders will try to avoid confrontation, the Sydney funnel web spider will attack and attempt to bite no matter who threatens it. When attacking, the spider will cling to the victim, biting repeatedly to ensure it has injected the full dose of venom.
Besides this willingness to bite, the Sydney funnel web spider has an amazing set of fangs. Pointing straight down, these hollow fangs are larger than those of some snakes and are capable of cutting into prey with considerable force. It has been reported that the Sydney funnel web spider's fangs can penetrate shoe leather and nails. Thanks to this destructive venom delivery mechanism, the spider injects an appropriate dose of powerful atracotoxin, a small dose that can kill anything that flies, crawls or threatens it.
It is also unusual that the males of this spider have more fatal bite, about 6 times stronger. This neurotoxin is particularly toxic to primates, attacking within minutes nervous system. Only 20% of bites cause severe reactions such as muscle spasms, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, confusion and swelling of the brain. One study reports that death occurs within 28 minutes of the bite. There is at least one recorded case where one Small child died within 15 minutes of being bitten by a Sydney funnel-web spider, although this tragedy occurred before antivenom was available.
Video. Why is the Sydney leukoweb spider dangerous for people?
These spiders are primarily active at night, as typical daytime conditions dehydrate them. During the day they seek shelter in cool, damp shelters. After heavy rain Spider activity increases as their burrows may be flooded. When threatened or annoyed, funnel web spiders will display aggressive behavior by standing on their hind legs and showing their fangs. When a funnel web spider bites, it exerts tight control over its prey, often biting repeatedly.
Reports show that the Sydney funnel-web spider was responsible for 13 deaths during the reporting years, all of which were attributed to male spiders. However, since the invention of an antivenom for this spider species in 1981, no deaths have been reported.
If you are going on holiday or a business trip to Australia, then you should watch the following documentary about the most dangerous animals in Australia. In addition, we invite you to familiarize yourself with it, there are also videos on each continent.
Video. The most dangerous animals in the world. Australia
Other Interesting Facts about Australian spiders
In 2012, Australian spiders spun huge webs that covered an entire region.
In early March 2012, fields affected by floods in New South Wales were covered with a continuous web of wolf spiders. In an attempt to avoid rising water, the spiders climbed onto the grass and released hundreds of meters of silk in the hope of flying to safety with a gust of wind. Locals they were called the flying spiders (on the web) of Australia.
“Everything you see is the result of all their failed attempts to escape.” Evolutionary geneticist and spider expert Amber Beavis said it was unusual to see adult spiders attempting to escape in a hot air balloon.
Photo. Australian fields strewn with cobwebs
Photo. Dog under a web
Photo. Everything is covered with cobwebs
Young spiders typically use this method of travel, said Dr Beavis, from the Australian National University. She said wolf spiders are not social spiders. “They are loners, but in such extreme conditions they clearly do not mind being around each other.”
Spiders pose no harm to humans. They are not aggressive and do not bite unless they face a serious threat or their life is in danger. They have a weak venom, so if they bite you, you may experience a mild headache and local pain.
Video. In Australia, millions of spiders have woven a huge web
Because of the water, the number of mosquitoes was incredible, but these spiders were grabbing all these insects and bugs. They are beneficial. They actually helped people, experts reported.
Wrap spider
The photo of the camouflaged spider will make arachnophobes shiver as it is seen that this spider is quite flexible and can be found in Australia.
The pictured spider, Dolophones turrigera, or wrap-around spider, was found at the Rotary Park Rainforest Reserve, in Lismore, New South Wales. They can easily camouflage themselves even on an ordinary branch.
Its general appearance is typical of all Australian dolophon species, where the upper surface of the abdomen resembles a cone-shaped shield. The adult female is about 8 mm in length, while the male is slightly smaller, usually 4-5 mm. Other dolophone species, such as Dolophones conifera, are very similar.
Photo. Wrapper spider camouflaged on a branch
Photo. The wrapping spider (lat. Dolophones turrigera) resting
Photo. The web spider has a cone-shaped abdomen
Photo. Wraparound spider in the shade of foliage
Wrapping spiders have a concave lower part, which allows them to wrap themselves around small branches during the day to camouflage themselves from birds, wasps and other predators, and at night they build large webs between trees.
A new species of spider was named after singer Bob Marley
It was two o'clock in the morning on January 11, 2009. The tide on the coasts of Queensland (Australia) has receded significantly and for the first time revealed a group of sea spiders unknown to date. This peculiar scene reminded scientists of Bob Marley's 1973 hit song "High Tide or Low Tide."
Researchers described it as a new species of spider. Now a team consisting of Dr Barbara Bahra, Robert Crow and Danilo Harms, associated with the Queensland Museum and the University of Hamburg in Germany, has published this study revealing details about the arachnid, and provided information about two of its relatives (previously known but not studied) from Samoa and Western Australia.
Photo. Spider Desis bobmarleyi
The new species was given scientific name Desis bobmarleyi. And unlike other spiders that people are widely familiar with, this species is truly marine.
These animals have adapted to underwater life; at high tide they hide in the shells of empty shells, corals and algae. To breathe, they build air chambers made of silk. However, as soon as sea water leaves, they hunt for small invertebrates that walk on the surface rocks, corals and nearby plants.
The study aimed to study female and male samples collected where they were found. Both sexes are predominantly characterized by reddish and brown colors, their limbs are orange-brown and they are covered with a dense layer of thin, long and dark gray structures. Females are larger than males at almost 9 millimeters, while males are about 6 millimeters long.
The distribution range of this species is still too abstract to define a precise region. However, they can now be tracked in the intertidal zones of the Great Barrier Reef, which is located on the northeast coast of Australia.
Scientists are also using their work to honor the German naturalist late XIX century: Amalia Dietrich, also known as a Jamaican singer and songwriter.
“The song High Tide or Low Tide is the perfect reference for this spider because it speaks of love and friendship in all of life's battles,” explain the authors who gave this spider its curious name. Both individuals, although representing very different fields, are perceived by researchers as examples of human nature, "enterprising and steadfast at heart" in the search for freedom and independence.
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