About Hercules spider
- It is the largest male funnel web spider ever recorded.
- Characteristics
- The spider’s impressive size, measuring 3.1 inches from foot to foot.
- It is equipped with fangs capable of penetrating human nails, Hercules stands as the world’s most venomous arachnid.
- It represents the first male of such magnitude.
- Male funnel web spiders are known to be more lethal than their female counterparts
- Range:
- These are commonly found in forested regions and gardens spanning from Sydney, Australia, the coastal city of Newcastle in the north and the Blue Mountains to the west.
- Habitat: The warm and humid climate along Australia’s east coast provides an ideal breeding ground for funnel web spiders.
What is a funnel-web spider?
- These are one of the most dangerous arachnids in the world.
- There are 36 described species of Australian funnel-web spiders and they are currently placed in three genera: Hadronyche, Atrax and Illawarra.
- The spider has venom, which is filled with 40 different toxic proteins.
- Its raw venom is the best way to make life-saving antivenom.
Q1) What is Illawarra ?
It is a monotypic genus of Australian funnel-web spiders containing the single species Illawarra wisharti. It has only been found in the Illawarra region of southern New South Wales. It is a member of the subfamily Atracinae, the Australian funnel-web spiders, a number of whose species produce venom that is dangerous to humans.
Last updated on July, 2025
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