Hadronyche infensa

Hadronyche infensa, the Darling Downs funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider, one of a number of Australian funnel-web spiders found in Queensland and New South Wales.

Hadronyche infensa
male specimen on display at the Australian Museum
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Atracidae
Genus: Hadronyche
Species:
H. infensa
Binomial name
Hadronyche infensa
(Hickman, 1964)
Synonyms

Atrax infensus Hickman

Taxonomy

The Darling Downs funnel-web spider was described by Hickman in 1964 as Atrax infensus before being moved to the genus Hadronyche in 1988. The type specimen is a male spider that was collected in Toowoomba, Queensland, in 1963.[1] Within the genus, it is a member of the infensa group, which contains several described and undescribed species in central New South Wales and southern Queensland.[1]

Description

Like many Australian funnel-web spider species, both sexes of the Darling Downs funnel-web spider have a shiny black carapace and dark brown to black legs, chelicerae and abdomen. The carapace is longer than it is wide. The abdomen of the male has a pale patch underneath.[1]

Distribution and habitat

The Darling Downs funnel-web spider is found in eastern Australia, ranging from southeast Queensland to the northeastern portion of New South Wales.[1]

Toxicity

The venom of male and female Darling Downs funnel-web spiders is of equal toxicity.[2] Two out of 14 recorded cases of being bitten by a Darling Downs funnel-web spider have resulted in severe symptoms of envenomation. Bites from female spiders have also resulted in milder cases of envenomation. The venom can be successfully treated with the antivenom for the related Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus).[3]

The venom of the Darling Downs funnel-web spider becomes more toxic in early summer, after the spider has been fasting over the winter.[2] Male Darling Downs funnel-web spiders at this time are mobile and searching for a mate, meaning that people are more at risk of encountering them and being bitten.[2]

References
  1. Gray, Michael R. (24 November 2010). "A revision of the Australian funnel-web spiders (Hexathelidae: Atracinae)" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum. 62 (3): 285–392. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.62.2010.1556. ISSN 0067-1975.
  2. Miller MK, Whyte IM, White J, Keir PM (2000). "Clinical features and management of Hadronyche envenomation in man". Toxicon. 38 (3): 409–27. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(99)00171-3. PMID 10669029.
  3. Isbister G, Gray M, Balit C, Raven R, Stokes B, Porges K, Tankel A, Turner E, White J, Fisher M. "Funnel-web spider bite: a systematic review of recorded clinical cases". Medical Journal of Australia. 182 (#8).

Data related to Hadronyche infensa at Wikispecies Media related to Hadronyche infensa at Wikimedia Commons

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