Nature & Environment

Giant funnel-web spider is twice average size

By T.K. Randall
February 6, 2020 ·  12 comments

It's bad news for arachnophobes. Image Credit: Samantha Villagran / sxc.hu Named 'The Rock' after wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne Johnson, the enormous arachnid was discovered wandering around a suburb on the coast of New South Wales.

Fortunately it was quickly picked up and taken to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle before being transported to the Australian Reptile Park where it will become part of a special 'milking' program that collects venom for use in the development of treatments for spider bites.Funnel-webs are often considered to be one of the most dangerous species of spider in the world as they are capable of delivering a very nasty bite that has the potential to prove deadly.

Researchers believe that this particular specimen managed to reach its colossal size due to a period of very wet weather followed by intense heat - the perfect combination for funnel-web spiders.

Worryingly, this could also mean that there are other mammoth specimens still out there.


Source: Heart.co.uk | Comments (12)

Tags: Spider, Australia