Discovery of 'Big Boy': A new super-sized venomous spider
Scientists from Australia and Germany have classified a new, highly venomous spider species - Atrax christenseni, known as Big Boy. It is very large and extremely venomous. A bite can be fatal.
Researchers from Flinders University in Australia, the Australian Museum, and the German Leibniz Institute announced the discovery of this new, highly venomous spider species. Atrax christenseni, also known as Big Boy, is a larger and more venomous variety of the Australian funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus). Reuters published This information, citing the previous day's research results.
Atrax christenseni - a new spider species
The newly discovered spider was first noticed in the early 2000s near Newcastle, about 170 kilometres north of Sydney. The discovery was made by spider enthusiast Kane Christensen, whose name is immortalized in the Latin species name.
Atrax christenseni reaches a length of 10 centimetres, making it almost twice the size of the classic Australian funnel-web spider, which measures about 5 centimetres.
The spider is found within a radius of about 150 kilometres from Sydney and is mainly active from November to April. In both varieties of funnel-web spider, only the male's bite can be fatal to humans. Since the 1980s, when an antivenom for Australian funnel-web spider venom was developed, 13 deaths have been recorded. Scientists confirm that the same treatment effectively cures Big Boy's bites.
Characteristics and dangers
Atrax christenseni is characterized by larger venom glands and longer fangs than its relative. The former head of the spider division at the Australian Reptile Park emphasizes that this spider secretes large amounts of venom and should not be touched.
Symptoms of a spider bite
Symptoms of a spider bite usually include localized pain, itching, and swelling, but they can be dangerous for those with allergies, potentially causing anaphylactic reactions. In the case of venomous species like Atrax, more severe effects such as skin necrosis or fever are possible. Caution is advised in areas where these spiders are found.
Australia, known for its numerous venomous creatures, attracts attention due to its large spiders that can appear in homes and vehicles. Encounters with them can be stressful for many people, but education and appropriate behaviour can minimize the risk of dangerous bites.
Source: PAP, WP
