Atrax Robustus 1 Nathalie Wojtowicz

Presentation 1. Description of the sydney funnel web spider 2. Is it very dangerous ? 2

Sydney funnel web spider Venomous spider : Arthropoda Phylus Arachnida Araneae Opisthothelea Genus Suborder Order Class Atrax Atrax Robustus Species 3

Sydney funnel web spider Location in Australia : 4

How to recognize an atrax robustus ?  One of the Australia’s largest spider : 35 mm length for a female and 25 mm for a male  Characteristics : Black to brown Shiny carapace Deeply curved groove Eyes closely grouped 5

How to recognize an atrax robustus ?  Differencing male and female : Male is more delicate built than female And has a little spur along its second leg But both have big fangs pointing straight down… …And able to penetrate fingernails or soft shoes !!! 6

How to recognize an atrax robustus ?  Sometimes mistaken with : ○ Misgolas rapax male or female : which is not poisonous ○ Misselena sp female ○ Badumna insignis, which may bite and cause nausea, sweating or giddiness 7

Where do they live ?  Burrow in moist, cool, sheltered habitats  Characteristic sign : irregular silk strip lines around the entrance 8

What is their behavior ?  Solitary animals  Active at night  Hunt from the burrow entrance  Eat from insects and spiders to small frogs and lizards  Very aggressive, when approached 9

Mating  During Summer/Autumn males wander  Pheromones help them to find females’ burrow  During mating, considerable sparring occurs 10

Interaction with humans  Males are often found in suburban gardens, sometimes trapped in houses or garages, or in swimming pools  4 millions people live with Sydney Funnel Web Spider  Greater chance to encounter this spider 11

Toxins  The venom of male is very toxic  Females are harmless  Contains a unique component : Robustoxin, which affects the nervous system of humans and monkeys 12

Symptoms  Bite very painful, due to the acidity of the venom and the size of fangs  Systemic envenoming  Tingling around the mouth and tongue, facial muscle twitching, nausea, vomiting, profuse sweating, salivation and shortness of breath 13

Symptoms  Patients may rapidly develop agitation, confusion and coma  Death results from progressive hypotension or possibly raised intracranial pressure consequent on cerebral oedema 14

Antivenom  Developed for clinical use in 1981 by Dr Struan Sutherland  Effective against other dangerous funnel-web spiders and also in case of bites from mouse spider  Held at major city and regional hospitals 15

Antivenom  Before the introduction of antivenom the illness required 2 to 3 weeks of hospital care, whereas now it lasts 1 to 3 days  No definite adverse reactions to the antivenom  No death occurred since its introduction 16

First Aid  Apply a pressure bandage  Bound a rigid splint onto the limb to prevent limb movement  Keep as quiet as possible  Try to keep the spider for positive identification 17

FAQs about Atrax Robustus  Can they swim ? Can’t swim But can survive hours under water and so bite when removed of the water !!!  Can they jump ? Can’t jump But move quickly And rear up when irritated 18

Conclusion Atrax robustus doesn’t kill anymore… But if you have arachnophobia, don’t go to Australia ! 19

20 Thank You !