SYDNEY – A remarkable discovery has been made at the Australian Reptile Park, where the largest male specimen of the world’s most venomous arachnid has found a new home. The deadly Sydney funnel-web spider, named Hercules, was found on the Central Coast, about 50 miles north of Sydney, and has now become a crucial part of the park’s antivenom program.
Measuring an impressive 3.11 inches from foot to foot, Hercules surpasses the park’s previous record-holder, the male funnel-web named Colossus. This incredible find will greatly contribute to the park’s efforts in producing lifesaving antivenom, as safely captured spiders undergo ”milking” to extract venom.
“We’re used to having pretty big funnel-web spiders donated to the park; however, receiving a male funnel-web this big is like hitting the jackpot,” said Emma Teni, a spider keeper at Australian Reptile Park. “With having a male funnel-web this size in our collection, his venom output could be enormous, proving incredibly valuable for the park’s venom program.”
Since the inception of the program in 1981, there has not been a fatality in Australia from a funnel-web spider bite. This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the team at the Australian Reptile Park.
With recent rainy and humid weather along Australia’s east coast, funnel-web spiders have been thriving, making the discovery of Hercules even more significant. The park’s ongoing efforts to study and protect these fascinating creatures are essential for the safety of the public and the preservation of these important species.
Disagree Spiders are fascinating creatures, and just because they may be deadly doesn’t mean they should be feared. Australia’s diversity of wildlife, including the world’s biggest male spider, is something to be celebrated and respected.
Disagree. The fact that Australia has the world’s biggest male of the deadliest spider species is terrifying, not something to celebrate.