Largest male of the world's most venomous spider found in Australia
Kyiv • UNN
The world's largest male Sydney funnel web spider, found in Australia, will help produce an antidote.
A giant male Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the world's most venomous spider species, was discovered north of Sydney. He was named Hercules and taken to the Australian Reptile Park. It is noted that now his venom will save the lives of people who have been bitten by his relatives. This was reported by UNN, with a link to a statement by the Australian Reptile Park.
Meet Hercules - measuring 7.9 cm, he is the largest male funnel-web spider we have ever transferred to the Australian Reptile Park!
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A deadly Sydney funnel-web spider called the Hercules was found on the central coast, about 50 miles north of Sydney, and was initially taken to a local hospital.
Spider experts have determined that this is the largest male specimen that has been publicly discovered in Australia so far. The length of the spider from foot to foot was 7.9 centimeters.
Males are usually much smaller than females, but Hercules is as big as the largest female funnel web we've gotten.
The previous record holder, Colossus, was caught in 2018 and was a millimeter smaller. Usually, the dreaded "Sydney funnels," as they are called on the continent, are only one to five centimeters tall, with females clearly taller than males. However, the largest female discovered to date, named Megapaw, is only slightly larger at eight centimeters.
It is also said that from now on, Hercules in the reptile park will contribute to the venom control program. Safely caught spiders handed over to the public are "milked" to obtain the venom needed to produce a life-saving antivenom.
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Known for its aggressive nature, the Australian funnel web spider is also one of the fastest spiders. Its venom is powerful and fast-acting.
A bite can be fatal within hours, and a child can die in less than fifteen minutes. Symptoms of paralysis can appear within minutes and eventually lead to heart failure if left untreated.
Fortunately, the antidote has been around since the 1980s and continues to improve.
The reptile park is the only place in Australia where males are milked for antivenom. The reason: males are five to six times more venomous than females, and their toxin is particularly suitable for the production of a life-saving antidote.
