The most poisonous spiders only account for 2% of the total spider population, and yet this small number of poisonous spiders is enough to make them one of the most feared creature on Earth. So What is the most poisonous spider in the world and which ones come close.
Most Poisonous Spider No. 1 - The Brazilian Wandering Spider
This is by far the World's most poisonous spider. It is not only deadly, but big as well, growing to a maximum leg span of 15cm. The Brazilian Wandering Spider has venom which contains the neurotoxin PhTx3. This neurotoxin acts to block calcium
and glutamate uptake in the body resulting in loss of muscle control leading to paralysis and eventually death. Just 0.006mg of venom is enough to kill a mouse.The Brazilian Wandering Spider is found mainly in the forests of South America. As their habitat is encroached upon they are being increasingly found in suburban environments of South America. They often take refuge in banana trees, earning them the alternative name of banana spider, and have even been found in other countries ofter being shipped in crates of bananas.
Apart from causing immense pain and often death, the bite of the Brazilian Wandering spider can also cause priapism in men - an uncontrollable erection that can last for hours. The result of this is often sterility and impotence. So it is not only the most poisonous spider in the World but also the most feared spider by men the World over.
Most Poisonous Spider No. 2 - The Australian Funnel Web
The Australian Funnel Web spider is the second most poisonous spider but is considered by many to be the most dangerous due to the strength of its bite. The Funnel Web fang is able to penetrate fingernails and soft shoes and delivers a very painful bite due to the acidity of the venom.
The Funnel Web ranges in size from 1cm-5cm and they are found along the east coast of Australia. While both the male and the female are venomous, it is the male spider that is responsible for nearly all recorded attacks, as it is the male that often wanders looking for a female partner.
Funnel Web venom contains atracotoxins surprisingly appears to only be harmful to monkeys and humans. The symptoms of Funnel Web bite include nausea, sweating, and shortness of breath. This is usually followed by confusion and coma. Death will often follow due to hypotension. Death can occur from 15 minutes to 3 days.
There are many myths surrounding the Funnel Web Spider, the most common of which is that it can jump large distances to attack its victims. The fact is the Funnel Web Spider is extremely aggressive, but can not jump. It will however rear up on its rear legs in an aggressive stance when threatened.
Most Poisonous Spider No. 3 - The Black Widow
The Black Widow is actually a generic name for Many species of spiders in the same genus - Latrodectus. Because the term Black Widow refers to so many different spiders is difficult to make a general statement about their danger. For the sake of this article we will focus on the Southern Black Widow which is found throughout most of the United States and Mexico and is the third most poisonous spider in the World.
The black widow is a small glossy black spider with a distinctive red mark on its abdomen that often takes the shape of an hourglass. It is the female, being much larger in comparison to the male, that is dangerous to humans. The Black Widow is not an aggressive spider and generally only
bites if it feels threatened. They account for a large number of spider bites because they live in and around houses, over a very large geographical area.The fangs of the Black Widow are only approximately 1mm long and, compared to other venomous spiders, they only inject a small amount of neurotoxic venom. The symptoms of a Black Widow bite include severe pain in the muscles around the bite, headache, nausea, joint pain, muscle cramping, abnormal heart beat and high blood pressure. In extreme cases it can result in priapism, renal failure, coma and death. While death from Black Widow bite is unusual in healthy adults, it is more of a risk in children or people with heart conditions.
Most Poisonous Spider No 4. - The Red Back Spider
The Red Back Spider is in the same family as the Black Widow but is worthy of a separate mention because it is only found in Australia and is a different species.
The Red Back Spider is found throughout the whole of Australia and is considered the second most dangerous spider in the country, behind the Funnel Web Spider. The female, pictured above, measures around 1cm in body length, while the male only measures 3mm- 4mm in length. It is the Female that is the fourth most poisonous spider in the World.
The Red Back is a very hardy spider, and can live in almost any environment. They have also traveled outside the borders of Australia, to New Zealand and Japan. Over 700 have been found near the container terminal in Hakata bay in Fukuoka city. This is significant as it is the first Poisonous spider in Japan.
Like the Black Widow, the Red Back Spider injects a neurotoxin that causes severe pain, nausea, muscle cramp, and in extreme cases, coma and death. It should be noted that no deaths from Red Back Spiders have been recorded since the introduction of an anti venom in 1956.
Most Poisonous Spider No 5. - The Six Eyed Sand Spider
The Six Eyed Sand Spider is found in the sandy deserts of Southern Africa. It's Latin name is Sicarius hahni, which means murderer. Its body is usually around 15mm long with a leg span of up to 50mm. As seen in the picture it as well camouflaged due to tiny hairs on its body that trap sand particles.
The venom of the Six Eyed Sand Spider could actually be the most poisonous spider in the World, but thankfully it is also one of the least aggressive spiders. It captures its prey by ambush, covering itself in sand and jumping out when its target walks past. However when something as large as a human passes by it runs and hides.
Six Eyed Sand Spider Venom is a haemolytic which causes blood vessel leakage and tissue destruction. It has been shown to kill a rabbit in 15 minutes. Unlike other venomous spiders, there is no anti venom at present. To date there are only two suspected victims of this spider, and other possible causes exist in these cases. So it seems that being bitten by the Six Eyed Sand Spider is an unlikely event, but should it happen, you will die!