Fauna of Australiais unique and very diverse because this continent is isolated from the rest of the world. Over millions of years, this relatively small piece of land has developed amazing animals that cannot be found in other parts of the world. For example, only there can you see kangaroos, koalas, wombats and Tasmanian devils. There are especially many poisonous snakes and spiders on this continent. There are cases when Australians find animals in their homes that look like real monsters. These creatures can easily kill a person, so people have to call a snake or spider trapping service, or make a call to the local emergency service. As part of this article, we invite you to take a look at our list of the scariest spiders in Australia. Hold on tight, they may give you goosebumps.
Australia's spiders are not only poisonous, but also scary in appearance
Contents
- 1 Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
- 2 Redback Spider
- 3 Huntsman Spider
- 4 Trapdoor Spider
- 5 Mouse Spider
Sydney Funnel-Web Spider
First of all, residents and visitors of Australia should be afraid of the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustu). Many species of spiders are harmless, and some are striking in their beauty. But funnel-web spiders are not one of them – they are among those that can cause serious harm to human health. Sometimes a bite from a poisonous spider leads to death, because the victims do not have time to inject the antidote.
The Sydney funnel-web spider looks like a fiend from hell. Image: fishki.net
The funnel-web spider is small, about 5 centimeters. Its body is either black or has a brownish tint. The most dangerous spider in Australia lives only in the state of New South Wales. It builds its traps in damp and cool places in nature, and sometimes sneaks into people's homes. Diet of spidersincludes only large insects and other arthropods.
You can't crush a spider like this with a slipper! Image: wikipedia.org
The venom of the funnel-web spider affects the human nervous system and leads to death. However, it is not dangerous for other mammals – the bite cannot harm cats and dogs. Antidote for a spider bitewas created in 1981, and since then the number of deaths has decreased significantly. To obtain one dose of the antivenom, the spider needs to be “milked” of venom approximately 70 times.
A funnel-web spider in all its glory. Photo by James van den Broek
A red-backed spider
Redback spiders (Latrodectus hasselti) are relatives of black widows, with a body length of up to 10 millimeters. These tiny creatures have a red spot on their backs, but they are still very difficult to spot, which is what makes them dangerous. This species of black widows is found only in Australia. The other species are found almost all over the world, and recently they have even lived in Russia.
The black widow cannot be confused with any other spider. Image: wikimedia.org
The bite of a black widow causes severe pain. There is an antidote to the black widow's venom, but it only saves from the destruction of the nervous system, and the pain still torments a person for a very long time. The spider bites a person only in case of danger, and otherwise the black widow feeds on insects, and sometimes small lizards.
Among black widows, females are especially dangerous. Image: ixbt.com
Read also: The most poisonous spider in Russia – its bite torments for 2 weeks and can kill
Huntsman spider
Who is very frightening in its appearance is the Australian huntsman spider.The spider's leg span can reach up to 30 centimeters, making it a huge, hairy, fast-running monster from every arachnophobe's nightmare. It can cover a full meter in one second, a fact that is absolutely spine-chilling.
You're terrified of this hunter, aren't you? Image: australiaunpacked.com
Luckily, these spiders of Australia do bite people, but not to death. The spiders most often attack to protect their eggs. Symptoms of a Spider Biteinclude pain, swelling, nausea, headache, and increased heart rate. Their venom is more effective against insects and small animals, paralyzing them so the spider can feed in peace.
The Huntsman Spider's Venom Is Dangerous, But Not Deadly. Photo: reddit.com
Trapdoor Spider
Trapdoor spiders grow up to 3 centimeters in length, so they are not among the largest spiders in Australia. They live in forests and sometimes climb onto people's property. Trapdoor spiders are interesting because they build burrows with a trapdoor, and then lie in wait for their prey, half-hanging out of the shelter.
Trapdoor spiders are small, but they still pack a scary punch. Image: wikimedia.org
Female trapdoor spiders are larger than males, but the latter are more aggressive. Fortunately, their bites are not fatal, and cause local pain with nausea and loss of strength.
Trapdoor spider hole. Image: museum.ru
You will be interested in: What does a web consist of and how do spiders weave their traps?
Mouse Spider
We present to you the mouse spider – in our opinion, this is the creepiest spider in Australia. Most of their body is painted in a shiny, black color. But in the head area there is a bright red part that looks very scary.
Terrifying Mouse Spider. Image: fishki.net
This spider is probably capable of making anyone arachnophobic. Image: wikipedia.org
Not only do these spiders run fast, but they are also capable of flying from one place to another on a web. Fortunately, they are not aggressive towards people, and in case of danger they try to quickly disappear from sight. And this is good, because just the sight of these spiders can make even the most manly man squeal.
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As you can see, there are a frighteningly large number of spiders in Australia, and some of them are deadly. Do you know why there are so many poisonous creatures there? If not, you will find the answer at this link.