 
Probably the most notorious of all spiders, the Sydney Funnelwebs have a fearsome reputation. This small spider, only 1 to 5 cm long, hides in cool, humid places, including under rocks, logs or even in your shoes.In New South Wales, a state on the east coast of Australia whose capital is Sydney (the most populous city in Australia), they will take shelter in homes when the weather is hot. They have a habit of wandering into backyards and falling into swimming pools, where they can survive many hours by trapping air bubbles next to their skin. 
The bite is very painful and potentially deadly, although antivenom exists.
Sydney Funnelwebs are shiny, dark brown to black spiders with finger-like spinnerets (silk-spinning organs) at the end of their abdomen. If threatened, Sydney Funnelwebs show aggressive behaviour, rearing and displaying their impressive fangs.
Adult male Sydney Funnelwebs have one of the most toxic venoms to humans of any spider. However, it is not true that all funnel-web bites are life-threatening. The venom of juvenile and female funnelweb spiders is much less toxic. Funnelwebs burrow into sheltered places under logs and rocks where they can find a cool and humid climate. They rush out of their burrow when potential prey, such as beetles, cockroaches, small lizards or snails, walk across the silk trip-lines that the spider places around the outside of its burrow. They then return to their burrow to eat their meal. Males leave their burrows and wander over summer and autumn to find females and mate. |