funnel-web spider

funnel-web spider

 family of spiders in the order Araneida that are named for their funnel-shaped webs. Their webs open wide at the mouth of the tube, and the spider sits in the narrow funnel waiting for prey to contact the web. When this happens, the spider rushes out and captures the insect prey at the funnel's mouth. The most important genera are Evagrus, Brachythele, and Microhexura in North America, Trechona in South America, and the poisonous members of the Atrax genus in Australia.

      The species Atrax robustus and A. formidabilis are large, brown bulky spiders that are much feared in southern and eastern Australia because of their venomous bites. Several human deaths from the bites of these aggressive spiders have been recorded in the Sydney area since the 1920s. An antidote to the main toxin in their venom has been developed which is effective if administered to victims soon after they have been bitten.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Funnel-web spider — can refer to:* Araneomorph funnel web spider, the modern funnel web spider, suborder Araneomorph * Venomous funnel web tarantula, a primitive funnel web spider, suborder Mygalomorphae * Australasian funnel web spider, also known as the Sydney… …   Wikipedia

  • funnel-web spider — funnˈel web or funnel web spider noun A venomous spider (genus Atrax) of E Australia which constructs a tube shaped or funnel shaped lair • • • Main Entry: ↑funnel …   Useful english dictionary

  • funnel-web spider — /fʌnəl wɛb ˈspaɪdə/ (say funuhl web spuyduh) noun 1. either of three genera of spiders of the subfamily Atracinae of the family Hexathelidae, found along the eastern coast of Australia; found in moist, sheltered environments, typically under… …  

  • funnel-web spider — noun a dangerously venomous Australian spider that builds a funnel shaped web. [Genera Atrax and Hadronyche.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • funnel-web spider — any spider of the Australian genus Atrax. Six species have venomous bites, and the bite of A. robustus has caused human deaths …   Medical dictionary

  • Australasian funnel-web spider — Taxobox name = Venomous funnel web spiders image width = 210px image caption = Atrax robustus regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda classis = Arachnida ordo = Araneae subordo = Mygalomorphae familia = Hexathelidae familia authority = Simon, 1892… …   Wikipedia

  • Northern funnel-web spider — Technically speaking, the northern funnel web spider has the most lethal venom of any other spider in the world. However, a close competitor is the Sydney funnel web spider. The venom of both spiders can lead to death in humans, but have never… …   Wikipedia

  • Araneomorph funnel-web spider — Taxobox name = Araneomorph funnel Web Spiders image width = 100px image caption = Araneomorph grass spider regnum = Animalia phylum = Arthropoda classis = Arachnida ordo = Araneae superfamilia = Agelenoidea familia = Agelenidae familia authority …   Wikipedia

  • northern funnel-web spider — noun a large fanged, highly venomous, funnel web spider, Hadronyche formidabilis, of south eastern Qld and north eastern NSW, inhabiting decaying wood in rainforest areas; the bite is potentially fatal to humans. Also, northern funnel web,… …  

  • Sydney funnel-web spider — noun a large fanged, highly venomous, primarily nocturnal, funnel web spider, Atrax robustus, which feeds on insects and small reptiles and amphibians; found within a 100 km radius of Sydney; the bite is potentially fatal to humans. Also, Sydney… …  

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