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Northern Tree Funnel-web (Hadronyche formidabilis)

Northern Tree Funnel-web indigenous to different parts of Australia belongs to the order of mygalomorph spiders possessing an immensely high venom level, that makes them one of the deadliest spiders of the world.  Included in the Hadronyche genus, this along with the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web, Blue Mountains funnel-web as well as 12 other spider species from the Victoria and New South Wales is classified under the cerberea group.

Scientific Classification

  • Family: Atracidae
  • Genus: Hadronyche
  • Scientific name: Adronyche formidabilis

Northern Tree Funnel-Web

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size:  Being the largest member of the Atracidae family, they are 1.57 to 1.96 inches (40 to 50 mm) long.

Color: These spiders have an overall brown body, with a glossy black carapace. Their abdomen, legs, and chelicerae are dark brown. They even possess a purplish or plum tinge on their abdomen’s dorsolateral surface.

Other Characteristic Features: The males and females have a thinner and longer carapace than the other members of their genus. They have a lot of similarities with the Darling Downs funnel-web, another species of this genus. However, the male Northern tree funnel-web possesses a knobby spur on the shinbone or tibia of their second leg pair.

Northern Tree Dwelling Funnel Web

Eggs

Like most other species belonging to the Australian funnel-web family, they too have round or oval-shaped eggs enclosed in a pillow-shaped sac.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings eventually go on their own once they attain maturation.

The Web

As their name suggests, and like most other spiders of their family, they too build funnel-shaped webs, serving as burrows to trap the prey.

Are Northern Tree-dwelling Funnel-web Spiders Venomous

When confronted, the males and females, who are unable to jump to save themselves, do not delay in attacking the enemy with their venom-filled fangs.  The venom of these spiders is known to be potentially dangerous and life-threatening to humans. Their bites have caused envenomation symptoms in five of the eight recorded cases, mostly occurring in 15 – 20 minutes of their sting. Localized pain, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting are a few of the common symptoms of their bite. The antivenom used for treating the bite of the Sydney funnel-web is applicable for this one too.

Northern Tree Funnel Web Spider

Quick Facts

Other Names Northern Rivers Funnel-web, Northern Funnel-web
Distribution Eastern parts of Australia, ranging from the Southeast Queensland to New South Wales’ Hunter River
Habitat Logs, branches, hollow furrows, and pipes of trees
Predators Small mammals, reptiles, and birds
Diet Tree frogs, geckoes and a host of small insects
Lifespan 10 to 12 months

Did You Know

  • William Joseph Rainbow, an arachnologist and entomologist described this spider first in the year 1914 in the Atrax genus.
  • A part of its name, formidabilis, means terrifying in Latin, justifying its ferocity well.

Image Source: Live.staticflickr.com, Alchetron.com

Northern Tree Funnel-web indigenous to different parts of Australia belongs to the order of mygalomorph spiders possessing an immensely high venom level, that makes them one of the deadliest spiders of the world.  Included in the Hadronyche genus, this along with the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web, Blue Mountains funnel-web as well as 12 other spider species from the Victoria and New South Wales is classified under the cerberea group.

Northern Tree Funnel-Web

 

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size:  Being the largest member of the Atracidae family, they are 1.57 to 1.96 inches (40 to 50 mm) long.

Color: These spiders have an overall brown body, with a glossy black carapace. Their abdomen, legs, and chelicerae are dark brown. They even possess a purplish or plum tinge on their abdomen’s dorsolateral surface.

Other Characteristic Features: The males and females have a thinner and longer carapace than the other members of their genus. They have a lot of similarities with the Darling Downs funnel-web, another species of this genus. However, the male Northern tree funnel-web possesses a knobby spur on the shinbone or tibia of their second leg pair.

Northern Tree Dwelling Funnel Web

Eggs

Like most other species belonging to the Australian funnel-web family, they too have round or oval-shaped eggs enclosed in a pillow-shaped sac.

Spiderlings

The spiderlings eventually go on their own once they attain maturation.

The Web

As their name suggests, and like most other spiders of their family, they too build funnel-shaped webs, serving as burrows to trap the prey.

Are Northern Tree-dwelling Funnel-web Spiders Venomous

When confronted, the males and females, who are unable to jump to save themselves, do not delay in attacking the enemy with their venom-filled fangs.  The venom of these spiders is known to be potentially dangerous and life-threatening to humans. Their bites have caused envenomation symptoms in five of the eight recorded cases, mostly occurring in 15 – 20 minutes of their sting. Localized pain, hypertension, nausea, and vomiting are a few of the common symptoms of their bite. The antivenom used for treating the bite of the Sydney funnel-web is applicable for this one too.

Northern Tree Funnel Web Spider

Quick Facts

Other Names Northern Rivers Funnel-web, Northern Funnel-web
Distribution Eastern parts of Australia, ranging from the Southeast Queensland to New South Wales’ Hunter River
Habitat Logs, branches, hollow furrows, and pipes of trees
Predators Small mammals, reptiles, and birds
Diet Tree frogs, geckoes and a host of small insects
Lifespan 10 to 12 months

Did You Know

  • William Joseph Rainbow, an arachnologist and entomologist described this spider first in the year 1914 in the Atrax genus.
  • A part of its name, formidabilis, means terrifying in Latin, justifying its ferocity well.

Image Source: Live.staticflickr.com, Alchetron.com

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