NewsBite

Newcastle funnel-web ‘Big Boy’ is latest to join deadly line-up

NSW is now home to three different types of the ‘iconic’ venomous spider and the latest is known as Big Boy. See the photos.

Thor blimey! Giant Hemsworth will save lives

It’s bad news for arachnophobes but great news for a dedicated NSW spider wrangler: we are now home to a new funnel-web species.

Atrax christenseni – or ‘Big Boy’ – is found only in Newcastle and splits the funnel-web variant into three types.

German arachnologists, the Australian Museum and Flinders University published research on Monday they say differentiates the ‘classic’, ‘iconic’ Sydney funnel-web atrax robustus, the Blue Mountains-dwelling atrax montanus, and Big Boy.

The Australian Reptile Park’s antivenom program kickstarted the research after spider keeper Kane Christensen noted many spiders donated to the Park were ‘unusually large’.

“The sheer size of the males, compared to the males of the other … species is simply astounding,” he said.

The 'classic' Sydney funnel-web spider on the (left) and newly-identified Newcastle funnel-web variant 'Big Boy'. Picture: Kane Christensen
The 'classic' Sydney funnel-web spider on the (left) and newly-identified Newcastle funnel-web variant 'Big Boy'. Picture: Kane Christensen

In early January the Park received a spider named ‘Hemsworth’ measuring more than 9cm from ‘foot to foot’.

Funnel-web venom is milked when the spider strikes and bites – Hemsworth’s fangs have the ability to pierce a human fingernail.

Larger spiders have more ability to produce ‘substantial’ venom, which is then used as an antidote for potentially lethal bites.

Hemsworth the funnel-web Spider. Picture: Supplied
Hemsworth the funnel-web Spider. Picture: Supplied
A male atrax christenseni, or Newcastle funnel-web spider. Picture: Kane Christensen
A male atrax christenseni, or Newcastle funnel-web spider. Picture: Kane Christensen

The Australian Museum’s Dr Helen Smith said the research ‘opened the case’ to discern the trio and compared newly-found spiders to some of the 4000 existing specimens in the Museum’s collection, some of which date back 100 years.

The Blue Mountains variant was first classified in 1914 and Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change scientist Dr Stephanie Loria attributed the revised classification to NSW’s historical collections.

Each of the three variants has received its own scientific name, including Big Boy’s, which is a nod to Christensen for his important work with spiders and specifically in the funnel-web milking program.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email tips@dailytelegraph.com.au

Originally published as Newcastle funnel-web ‘Big Boy’ is latest to join deadly line-up

Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/nsw/newcastle-funnelweb-big-boy-is-latest-to-join-deadly-lineup/news-story/958212a0f832ec6b8da44f29aa461eca