What are Funnel Web Spiders? Australian scientists discover more bigger and venomous species

Funnel-web spiders, which are mostly found in Australia, differ from other spiders with funnel-shaped webs. The most notorious is Atrax robustus, which is commonly known as the Sydney funnel-web spider. Its bite can prove fatal if not treated. Now, a new species of funnel-web spider has been discovered, and it is larger and even deadlier than all other funnel-web spiders - researchers say.

Kane Christensen, an expert in Spiders, was quoted by Sky News:

"This particular spider is a lot larger, its venom glands are a lot larger and its fangs are a lot longer."

In January 2025, researchers named a newly discovered species "Big Boy." At 9 centimeters (3.54 inches) in length, it is much bigger than the average Sydney funnel-web spider, which measures about 5 centimeters (1.97 inches).

The new species has officially been named Atrax christenseni, honoring Christensen, who discovered it in the early 2000s near Newcastle, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) north of Sydney.

Fortunately, the same antivenom produced for the Sydney funnel-web will neutralize a bite from this new species.

Habitat and behavior of Funnel-web spiders

Expand Tweet

Funnel web spiders usually live in underground burrows, generally where there are rocks or logs, and they are actually covered with silk-lined tunnels acting as a trap for unsuspecting prey. Whenever an insect touches its silk threads, the spiders are quick to rush out to catch it.

The Sydney funnel-web spider is most active from November to April. They are primarily found within 150 kilometers of Sydney.

Christensen said:

"Sometimes you might find them in a garage or in a bedroom or somewhere in the house where they might have wandered in during the night".

"I would not recommend touching them that's for sure, they do give copious amounts of venom."

Characteristics of Funnel-web spiders

There are several genera of funnel web spiders, but the most common ones in Australia are Atrax, Hadronyche, and Illawarra. They vary in size and color, usually black or brown, with shiny carapaces. The males are generally smaller and less robust than the females.

Distinctive features

The two species can be distinguished from one another by their reproductive organs. This anatomical difference is a good way of distinguishing between the two species because both species could share the same habitats and similar behaviors. The male Sydney funnel-web is especially dangerous because it has much powerful venom.

Venom and medical significance

Funnel-web spiders contain delta-atracotoxin in the poison. The venom is a potent neurotoxin affecting primarily humans and primates but not other mammals. Fatalities have hardly occurred within minutes of bite since effective antivenom in the 1980s came into use.

Historically, there have been 13 documented deaths from the bites of the funnel web spider in Australia; the majority involved male spiders responsible for the deadliest envenomations.