Australian health authorities and news reports

Australian Scientists Discover 'Big Boy' Funnel-Web Spider, Named Atrax christenseni, Near Newcastle

Jan 14, 2025, 02:09 PM

Australian scientists have discovered a new species of the Sydney funnel-web spider, one of the world's deadliest, which is larger and more venomous than previously known species. Nicknamed 'Big Boy', this spider can grow up to 9 centimeters in length, compared to the 5 centimeters of the more common Sydney funnel-web. The new species, officially named Atrax christenseni, was first identified in the early 2000s near Newcastle, approximately 170 kilometers north of Sydney, by spider enthusiast Kane Christensen. The discovery was confirmed by scientists from the Australian Museum, Flinders University, and Germany's Leibniz Institute, who noted that the spider's venom glands and fangs are significantly larger. The same antivenom used for Sydney funnel-web bites is effective against bites from 'Big Boy'. The spiders are typically found within 150 kilometers of Sydney and are most active from November to April. Only the male Sydney funnel-web, with its stronger venom, has been responsible for human deaths, with 13 fatalities recorded, though none since the development of antivenom in the 1980s.