Australian scientists have discovered a dangerous new species of funnel spider that is larger and more poisonous than its close relatives, and they have named it ‘Big Boy’.
In a study published on Monday, scientists from the Australian Museum, Flinders University and Germany’s Leibniz Institute discovered that there are not one, but three species of Sydney funnel-web spiders. Scientists nicknamed the 3.54-inch-long species Atrachus christensenii, nicknamed “Big Boy.” In comparison, the common Sydney funnel web spider can grow up to nearly 2 inches.
“Our study reveals the hidden diversity of funnel spiders,” lead researcher Stephanie Loria said in a statement. “Newcastle’s funnel web, Atrax christenseni — ‘Big Boy’ — is a completely new species.”
The large black, shiny spider is considered one of the most dangerous venomous spiders to humans. Current antivenoms are already effective against a wide variety of funnel spider bites, including the newly discovered “big boy.”
Only male Sidney spiders have venom that kills adults, and 13 deaths from 1927 to the early 1980s are believed to have been caused by Sidney spiders. There have been no deaths since anti-venom drugs were introduced in the 1980s.
2024, Sydney Funnel Spider found in australia It set a record for the largest spider at the Australian Reptile Park. It was 3.1 inches long from foot to foot, surpassing the park’s previous record set in 2018.
