3 inches long and a bite that can pierce a human fingernail. The largest specimen of the world's most venomous spider has been discovered in Australia, according to the Associated Press.
“Hercules”, a 7.9 cm long male member of the funnel-web spider species, was found on the central coast of Australia, about 80 km north of Sydney, and returned to a wildlife park.
Typically, representatives of this species, considered the most poisonous spider in the world, measure 1 to 5 cm. Females are generally larger than males, which are more venomous.
According to the zoo, which is the only one in the world to develop a venom collection program to develop a serum, a male bite can kill an adult male in just 90 minutes.
Fangs that can pierce a nail
Equipped with fangs that can pierce a human nail, however, the funnel-web spider is more scary than evil. Since the park's anti-venom production program began in 1981, no deaths from bites of this species have been recorded in Australia.
Nevertheless, the discovery of Hercules remains a blessing for the park. “We are used to receiving donations of fairly large funnel-web spiders in the park, but receiving such a large male is like hitting the jackpot,” said Emma Teni, spider keeper at the Australian Reptile Park.
“Its venom production could be enormous and incredibly valuable to the park’s venom control program,” she added.
Present in the suburbs of Sydney
Funnel-web spiders are fortunately only found in Australia, in woodlands and suburban gardens from Sydney, Australia's most populous city, to the coastal city of Newcastle in the north and the Blue Mountains in the west.
Last April, a 19-year-old Australian boy was saved by antivenom developed in the park after he was bitten by a specimen in his bed. After he recovered, the park gave him a tour of the Australian Reptile Park's spider section.
As for this brave “Hercules,” after kindly providing some of his poison, he should be released into the wild.