Australian spiders: 9 terrifying representatives of the continent

How common are spiders in Australia?

There are many spiders in Australia. The climate of this country is great for them and contributes to the spread throughout the continent. In addition, due to the long isolation of this continent, many species of animals living on its territory are unique.

Spiders in Australia can be found both in the wild and indoors.

Most of them are active exclusively at night, so during the day they try to hide in a safe place. Australians often encounter spiders in the following places:

• attics;
  

  Australia is a comfortable place for spiders.

• cellars;
• mailboxes;
• space behind cabinets or other furniture;
• dense thickets in gardens and parks;
• inside bags or shoes left outside at night.

What are the sizes of spiders living in Australia

There is an opinion in the world that Australia is inhabited by spiders of exceptionally large sizes. In fact, this is not at all the case. In fact, most of the species living on the continent are small in size, and it is quite difficult to find especially large individuals.

In general, the number and size of arachnids on a distant continent practically do not differ from the inhabitants of other hot countries.

The main reason for the spread of the myth of the giant Australian spiders was the huge species diversity and the most favorable conditions for their development.

How dangerous are Australian spiders?

Despite popular belief, most of the spiders that live in Australia do not pose a serious threat to human life and health. The bulk of arachnids on this continent are owners of low-toxic poison, which can cause only short-term unpleasant symptoms:

• pain at the site of the bite;
• redness;
• swelling;
• itching;
• burning.

However, not all spiders in Australia are considered harmless. Several truly dangerous species live in the country. Fortunately for the locals, thanks to the high level of medicine and antidotes created in the second half of the last century, the number of deaths after being bitten by dangerous spiders was reduced to zero.

The most popular spider species in Australia

Up to 10 thousand different species of arachnids live on the territory of this remote continent, but only a few of them are considered the most dangerous and famous.

Garden Orb Weaving Spiders

Spider weaver.

The most common arachnids in Australia are representatives families of orbs. They got their name due to the characteristic shape, the cobwebs woven by them, which can be stumbled upon in almost every garden.

Garden spinners are not particularly distinguished by their size. The body length of different species can vary from 1,5 to 3 cm. The belly of the orb-web spider is large and rounded, and the body is covered with hairs.

The colors of the orbs are dominated by gray and brown. In most cases, Australians are bitten by spiders from this family, but fortunately their bites are practically harmless to humans.

hunter spiders

Spider hunter.

hunter spider or the huntsman - one of the most terrible representatives of the Australian fauna. These spiders very often enter houses and cars, frightening people with their sudden appearance.

Representatives of this species are large and the span of their paws can reach 15-17 cm. The limbs of the hunter spider are long and powerful. The body is covered with hairs. The color of different species varies from light gray to black.

Huntsmen move very quickly and can cover a distance of 1 meter in a second. Representatives of this family are not prone to aggression and rarely bite people. The venom of hunting spiders does not pose a serious danger to humans, and unpleasant symptoms disappear after a few days.

recluse spiders

Brown recluse spider.

Loxosceles or recluse spiders are rarely encountered on the path of a person, but sometimes climb inside houses in search of food or shelter. A distinctive feature of this species is the pattern on the back in the form of a violin. The belly of the hermit spider is small and rounded. The legs are long and thin. The body of the spider can be painted in different shades of brown or gray.

The poison of the recluse spider is considered one of the most dangerous for humans and can lead to serious health problems. But, over the past 20 years, not a single serious case of a recluse spider bite has been recorded in Australia. In addition, their fangs are too small and do not allow them to bite through the skin through clothing.

Australian tarantulas

Tarantula.

In Australia, there are 4 species of large spiders from the genus tarantulas. Native tarantulas are also called "whistling" or "barking" spiders due to their ability to make distinctive sounds.

Representatives of this genus have a large massive body and legs covered with many soft hairs. The size of the body together with the paws can reach 16 cm. The color of the Australian tarantula can be from silver gray to dark brown.

The bite of these arachnids is considered one of the most painful, since the length of their fangs reaches 10 mm, but the poison of Australian tarantulas very rarely leads to serious consequences for human life and health.

white tail spiders

White-tailed spider.

In Australia, there are only two species of arachnids, which are called "white-tailed". These spiders are constantly on the move in search of food, which is why people often encounter them both in the wild and in urban areas.

The span of the paws of white-tailed spiders reaches only 2-3 cm, and the body is shaped like a cigar. The main color of the white-tailed spider can be either gray or dark red. A distinctive feature of these arachnids is a white spot at the rear end of the body.

According to the latest scientific research, it has been proven that the venom of white-tailed spiders does not pose a serious threat to human life and health.

stonemason spiders

Spider mason.

This species was discovered relatively recently. They lead a secretive life and spend most of their time waiting for prey in ambush near their burrow. The size of these spiders is small and they reach no more than 3 cm in length. The body and paws of the mason spider are painted in gray and brown shades, which help it blend in with the environment, and are also covered with many hairs.

Almost all people bitten by mason spiders are victims of males. This is due to the aggressiveness of males and their tendency to wander in search of a female. The poison of representatives of this species is not dangerous to humans and rarely harms health.

mouse spiders

Mouse spider.

This type of arachnid can be found almost throughout Australia. A distinctive feature of mouse spiders is their activity during the daytime and their bright appearance. Their body and limbs are painted black. The head and chelicerae of males are bright red. These spiders are small in size and can reach a length of 1 to 3 cm.

The composition of the venom of mouse spiders is similar to the poison of dangerous representatives of the funnel family, so their bite can pose a serious threat to human health, and can be fatal for children and allergy sufferers.

redback spider

Australian widow.

The redback spider is also called the Australian widow. Representatives of this species are brothers of the famous black widow and produce a dangerous neurotoxic poison.

The Australian widow is very similar to her "black" sister. Its distinguishing feature is a bright red stripe on the back. The body length of the red-backed spider does not exceed 1 cm, while males are two to three times smaller than females.

The bite of this species of spiders can be deadly for children, the elderly and people with weak immunity, and in a healthy adult, a red-backed spider can cause serious illness.

Sydney leukopautinous (funnel) spider

This type of arachnid is considered one of the most dangerous in the world. From its name it is clear that its habitat is concentrated near the city of Sydney. Representatives of this species are of medium size. body length Sydney funnel web spider can reach 5 cm. The body and legs of the animal are painted black or dark brown.

Sydney funnel spider.

This species is considered especially dangerous due to the high toxicity of the poison and aggressive behavior. When attacking a person, spiders of this species tend to make several bites in order to introduce as much poison as possible into the body of the victim. At the same time, its chelicerae are so strong that they can even pierce the nail plate of an adult.

After being bitten by a Sydney leukocobweb spider, you should immediately seek medical attention and administer antivenom. A dangerous toxin from this species can kill a small child in just 15 minutes.

Conclusion

Australia is famous for its unique fauna and the presence of a huge number of dangerous snakes, sharks, insects and poisonous spiders. At the same time, it is the arachnids that are considered the most famous inhabitants of this remote continent. But, despite popular belief, not all Australian spiders pose a serious danger to humans.