Of all the continents of the globe, Australia is perhaps the most amazing and mysterious. Due to its remoteness from other continents, Australia has developed a unique flora and fauna. 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 pose a mortal danger to humans, but meeting them always causes anxiety and wariness even in those who do not suffer from arachnophobia.
List of the most amazing spiders in Australia:
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Giant crab spider Heteropoda
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 Heteropoda 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 30 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 characterized 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.
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Huge webs
When it rains, arthropods are blown into trees by the wind. Spiders climb higher and weave an elastic web. There are a lot of arthropods, and they can rise into the air to a height of 3 km and cover long distances. As a result, the webs are simply huge.
Spiders also cover large areas with them during floods. Trying to avoid water, they climb to the top of the blades of grass and from there release large plumes of web, trying to get to safety with the help of the wind.
As a result, all fields and objects end up under a thick white “cover.” As soon as the flood ends, the arthropods return to their original habitat.
Spider season is an amazing phenomenon in Australia, when you can observe large concentrations of arthropods of different species and huge webs of cobwebs. Since some of them are poisonous, after a bite you should immediately go to the hospital. Cases of death are practically eliminated, since an antidote has been developed for each species.
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 both Banana spiders and golden spiders, 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.
By the way, on topcafe.su there is a very interesting article about the most poisonous insects on the planet.
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Interesting facts about the spider “kingdom”
A surprising event in the country was the reaction shown by Australian flying spiders at the beginning of the flood. Trying to escape the water, they launched thousands of cobwebs into the air, trying for the wind to pick them up and carry them away from the danger zone. The consequence of this was the ground, white from their networks, since the web densely covered it tens of centimeters in height.
Spiders are interesting and useful creatures, and if not disturbed, they are harmless. Australians know this, which is why there have been no visits to the hospital due to their bites for a long time.
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.
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Australia is famous for being home to some of the deadliest creatures on the planet. The sea is full of man-eating sharks, there are many poisonous snakes on land, 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!
Video. TOP 10: The most dangerous spiders in Australia
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 in 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, 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.
The bite is quite painful, but not dangerous. It may cause some systemic effects such as nausea, headache and increased heart rate, but apparently not tissue necrosis.
Perhaps the biggest danger posed by huntsman spiders is their habit of climbing into cars. The sudden appearance of a large spider behind a sun visor or a spider running across the dashboard has allegedly caused 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 it wasn't until early November 2016 that they surfaced on social media, 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.
These spiders never cease to amaze with their hunting capabilities. In the summer of 2022, photos of a hunting spider that caught a possum appeared online.
Southern Tasmanian Justine Lutton shared photos taken by her husband in the Tasmanian Insects and Spiders Facebook group on June 14, 2022. Lutton told radio program Tasmania Talks that her husband was taking pictures at a lodge in Tasmania's Mount Field National Park during light renovation work.
Members of the Facebook group identified the arachnid as a huntsman spider (also known as a giant crab spider). In the photo, the huntsman spider is hanging head down from a door hinge and holding its prey by the neck. A dead marsupial (possum) dangles listlessly in the mandibles of a huntsman spider.
Photo. Huntsman spider caught a possum
The animal, commonly known as a possum in North America ("possum" actually belongs to a different order), can grow to the size of a cat. But the pygmy possum (Cercartetus lepidus) is the world's smallest possum, measuring 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7 centimeters) long and weighing about 0.2 ounces (7 grams), Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service says. .
Husband Justin was carrying out renovation work when he noticed a spider hiding on the door just above his colleague's head. They caught the spider with an empty ice cream container and released the spider from the lodge, and the spider skipped away and left its possum behind, Lutton said.
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 its hind legs and show its 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 its burrow, it will jump on its prey, neutralize it with fast-acting poison, and then pull the prey into the burrow. 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.
Their usual habitat is tree trunks, stone walls and crevices. The black house spider prefers open environments, but they can climb inside buildings and can be found where their prey is usually found, including corners, around windows (for which they are often called "window spiders") and doorways. This spider tends to stay close to a light source, as light attracts a large number of insects such as flies, beetles, ants, moths and mosquitoes. Spiders themselves can become prey for a number of other spiders, wasps and parasitic flies. Adult spiders live about two years.
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. There are two faint white spots on the belly 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. The description, white-tailed, applies to various species of spiders that have a white mark on their abdomen as a distinguishing feature, with age the other markings disappear, 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 spin webs but instead stalk their prey at night, their favorite at this time of day being 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 claim that it was not a spider bite that was to blame, but Bairnsdale’s 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 longest lifespan of any spider in Australia, with some females living up to 30 years (unfortunately, males only live 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 a powerful 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 pose a great danger to 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. The 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 act of eating allows them to copulate over a longer period 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. Even more alarming is the high incidence of genital bites, which is why court toilets are being replaced by indoor toilets in Australia.
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, you should avoid this spider!
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.
Also unusual is that the males of this spider have a more lethal bite, about 6 times stronger. This neurotoxin is particularly toxic to primates, attacking the nervous system within minutes. 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 of one small child dying within 15 minutes of being bitten by a Sydney funnel web spider, although this tragedy occurred before antivenom was available.
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 the most dangerous animals on earth, there are also videos on each continent.
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. Local residents called them 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.
Wrapping Spider This photo of a 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.
The photo of the wrapping spider was posted on the online forum Reddit and prompted several users to share disgusted comments. “This is a nightmare!” wrote one user. “This is one of the craziest types of spiders. We are always fascinated and amazed by our wonderful spiders,” wrote another.
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 the 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, once the seawater recedes, they hunt for small invertebrates that walk on the surface of 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.
The scientists are also using their work to commemorate a late 19th-century German naturalist: Amalia Dietrich, also known as a Jamaican singer-songwriter.
“The song High Tide or Low Tide is the perfect reference for this spider because it speaks of love and friendship in all 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.
This entry was published on Thursday, April 7, 2016 - 17:53. You can leave a comment.
Mouse spider
Photo source: / CC BY-SA
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.
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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.
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Mason spider
Photo source: / CC BY-SA
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.
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White tail spider
Photo source: / CC BY-SA
This amazing spider has a white spot on its reddish-brown abdomen. 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.
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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.
Danger to humans
Hunters are nocturnal and can crawl into a person’s house in search of food. They hide under furniture, in shoes, among clothes, in cabinets with dishes.
On a note!
Swelling, swelling, and redness occur at the site of the spider bite. People with weak immune systems, allergy sufferers, and young children often experience a deterioration in their health - weakness, dizziness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting. The condition returns to normal in a few days. To speed up the effect, take antihistamines. The hunter is not one of the deadly poisonous spiders.
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.
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Features of behavior
Researchers note the high reaction speed of the crab spider. The insect is able to turn 1800 and attack the victim in 1/8 of a second. For most of its life, the predator is passive, it hides under the foliage, waiting for its prey, and does not betray its presence with unnecessary movements.
In an effort to catch up with its prey, an arthropod can develop great speed . He is able to move equally effectively in all directions and even jump.
The female protects the egg laying. Seeing danger or, conversely, discovering a potential victim, it spreads its limbs in anticipation of the right moment and attacks with lightning speed.
Insects live alone, although they are quite social. Scientists often observed how spiders gathered in a “flock” consisting of 5-10 adults. They lead a predominantly nocturnal lifestyle.
Crab spiders have another unique feature - the ability to regenerate limbs.
Other representatives of this order also have this ability, however, most of them can regrow damaged body parts only for a limited period until they fully grow.
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.
Dolomedes briangreenei
Photo source: Twitter @bgreene
More recently, a new species of spider was discovered in Australia, which received the Latin name Dolomedes briangreenei. This is so far the only known spider in Australia that 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 when he is on the ground does he eat the prey.
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Why are they dangerous?
Spider season in Australia is the time when most species, both harmless and poisonous, are active, but not all of them are dangerous. For example, a horse eats plant foods. The remaining spiders are predators and eat insects and small amphibians. They kill the victim with poison, but in most species it does not pose a danger to humans.
A bite from another group of arthropods can cause flushing, mild cramping, dizziness and nausea. It’s worse if a person has an allergic reaction and develops Quincke’s edema. This is a dangerous condition that can be fatal. However, death from spider bites is now rare, since antidotes have been developed for each species.
After an arthropod attack, you need to remember what they looked like (it’s better to catch a sample and bring it with you) and contact the nearest medical facility. Also, large spiders can be very scary when they hide in cars. If they suddenly come out while the car is moving, the person may lose control, which leads to accidents.
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.
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Tree Funnel Spider
Photo source: / CC BY-SA 3.0 AU
This species of spider, which has the Latin name Hadronyche formidabilis, lives in the northern regions of the continent and is characterized by quite impressive sizes up to 5 cm and toxic 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.
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Nutrition
Thanks to its impressive size, the predator can diversify its diet not only with small insects, but also with quite large animals.
The basis of nutrition is:
- mice, as well as other rodents.
- Small lizards, frogs.
- Comparable in size.
- Insects (cockroaches, beetles, flies).
When attacking a prey, a predator immediately injects poison into its body. The substances it contains instantly paralyze the insect or frog, preventing resistance.
Simultaneously with the poison, the crab spider introduces enzymes contained in the saliva into the body of the victim. Their task is to soften the insides, preparing the prey for eating.
Since crab spiders became known to the world, many cases of attacks by these creatures on small reptiles and rodents have been recorded.
Thus, in the Australian city of Coppabella, a large representative of this species caught a mouse. The size of the animal’s body was comparable to the body of the spider itself, which did not stop it from lifting its prey up the vertical wall of the refrigerator.
An interesting incident happened in the Australian city of Queensland. A couple preparing for Sunday dinner discovered a crab spider hanging from the living room window. The insect was one of the largest representatives of its genus and was the size of a dinner plate. The owners of the house managed to record how he successfully attacked and ate a long gecko, the size of a spider itself.
Sydney leukoweb spider
One of the most dangerous spiders on the planet, the Sydney leukopachine spider is the only representative of the genus Atrax. TopCafe.su does not want you to accidentally find yourself in close proximity to such a “handsome guy”.
It has a very aggressive disposition, and unlike its relatives, which would prefer to avoid confrontation, this spider will attack and seek 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.
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