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The Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is a species of venomous mygalomorph spider native to eastern Australia, usually found within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of Sydney. It is a member of a group of spiders known as Australian funnel-web spiders. Its bite is capable of causing serious illness or death in humans if left untreated. [3]
The primary range of the Australian funnel-web spiders is the eastern coast of Australia, with specimens found in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland. [2] [7] The only Australian states or territories without members of this family are Western Australia [8] and the Northern Territory.
The redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti), also known as the Australian black widow, [2] [3] [4] is a species of highly venomous spider believed to originate in Australia but now, Southeast Asia and New Zealand, it has also been found in packing crates in the United States with colonies elsewhere outside Australia. [5]
Time is the best healer of a hobo spider bite wound. "Clean the area with soap and water, and use a cool compress and oral pain medication such as ibuprofen as needed," Dr. Ifedi says. 14.
Bleeding also may occur with a bite. Signs of a bacterial infection due to a spider bite occur infrequently (0.9%). [9] A study of 750 definite spider bites in Australia indicated that 6% of spider bites cause significant effects, the vast majority of these being redback spider bites causing significant pain lasting more than 24 hours. [10]
The Australian funnel-web spiders (family Atracidae), such as the Sydney funnel-web spider Atrax robustus (a mygalomorph spider, not to be confused with the araneomorph funnel-weaver or grass spiders) are regarded as among the most venomous in the world. They react vigorously to threats and, reputedly, will more often attempt to bite than run away.
Redback spider. Australia has a number of highly venomous spiders, including the Sydney funnel-web spider, [1] its relatives in the family Hexathelidae, and the redback spider, whose bites can be extremely painful and have historically been linked with deaths in medical records. [2]
Of the bites reported in the United States from 2001 to 2005, approximately 31% were treated in a health care facility, 0.5% had major complications, and none were fatal. [25] In Perth, Australia, for example there were 156 bites in children from redback spiders over 20 years. Twice as many boys were bitten as girls, mostly toddlers.