Funnel-web spiders
Family Hexathelidae
Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus) male.
Photo: M Gray © Australian Museum.
Funnel-web spiders, the most notorious members of our spider fauna, are found only in eastern Australia. There are at least 40 species currently placed in two genera: Hadronyche and Atrax. They are medium to large spiders, varying from 1-5 cm body length. Males are more lightly built than females. Body colour can vary from black to brown but the hard carapace covering the front part of the body is always sparsely haired and glossy. The lateral pair of spinning organs (spinnerets) at the end of the abdomen are longer and easily visible in Atrax spp. but often shorter in Hadronyche spp.
Not all species are known to be dangerous, but several are renowned for their highly toxic and fast acting venom. The male of Atrax robustus, the Sydney Funnel-web Spider, is probably responsible for all recorded deaths (13) and many medically serious bites. This remarkable spider has become a part of Sydney's folklore and, although no deaths have been recorded since the introduction of an antivenom in 1981, it remains an icon of fear and fascination for Sydneysiders.
Find out more:
- Identifying funnel-web spiders
- Suspects gallery
- Where funnel-web spiders live
- Sheltered retreats
- Early warning system
- The tree dwellers
- Wandering and mating
- The male factor
- Funnel-web spider antivenom
- Other dangerous funnel-web species
- First aid for funnel-web spider bites - why and how
- FAQs
- Funnel-web spider links
