Australian funnel‑web spiders

Details

Australian funnel‑web spiders chiefly refer to the family Atracidae, including the iconicSydney funnel‑web spider Atrax robustus and numerous Hadronyche species. They are robust, burrow‑dwelling mygalomorphs of major medical significance in Australia.

Ecology & Biology

• Lifestyle: burrow/crevice dwellers that build a funnel‑shaped entrance with radial trip lines, ambushing passing arthropods at the burrow lip.

• Activity: mostly nocturnal; adult males wander during warm, humid periods in search of mates, increasing human encounters.

• Venom & medicine: both sexes are venomous; in several species adult males are implicated in more severe bites. Since 1981, widespread antivenom availability has dramatically reduced fatalities in Australia.

Identification

• Build: glossy dark brown‑black carapace, powerful chelicerae; abdomen velvety with setae.

• Spinnerets: posterior spinnerets elongated with a distinct terminal segment—useful for diagnosis.

• Fangs: parallel, downward‑striking (mygalomorph condition).

Size & Longevity

• Body length: typically 25–50 mm (excluding legspan); females can be larger/heavier.

• Life: females live several years to >10 years; adult male phase is shorter.

Range & Habitat

Primarily eastern Australia (NSW, ACT, SE Queensland, parts of Victoria). Occupy moist forests, vegetated slopes, gardens/rock piles and crevices; burrow mouths show a distinct funnel and radiating silk lines.

Safety & First‑aid notes

• Risk scenarios: post‑rain/warm humid nights when wandering males may enter houses or fall into pools.

• Avoidance: wear gloves outdoors; never handle spiders by hand; seek professional removal indoors.

• First‑aid: where local guidance applies, consider pressure‑immobilisation bandaging (PIB) for suspected serious bites and seek urgent medical care. Follow local medical protocols.

IUCN: group‑level overview; many species lack individual assessments. Marked here as Not Evaluated (NE).