| Hadronyche cerberea | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Atracidae |
| Genus: | Hadronyche |
| Species: | H. cerberea |
| Binomial name | |
| Hadronyche cerberea Koch, 1873 | |
Hadronyche cerberea, the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider, is an extremely venomous mygalomorph spider found in central New South Wales, Australia.
German naturalist Ludwig Koch described the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider from a female spider collected in Sydney, and erected the genus Hadronyche in 1873. The type specimen was housed at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart and destroyed during bombing in World War II. A neotype was subsequently selected in 2010 and is housed at the Australian Museum in Sydney. [1]
The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider has a glossy black carapace, matte black or dark brown chelicerae and legs, and a light maroon-brown to dark brown abdomen. [1]
The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider is found in eastern Australia from the Hunter River in central New South Wales to southern New South Wales. This and the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider ( Hadronyche formidabilis ) are the only two species of Australian funnel-web spiders that live predominantly in trees. [1]
It inhabits dry sclerophyll forest. [1]
In Tallaganda National Park and its surrounds in southeastern New South Wales, the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider co-occurs with the funnel-web species Atrax sutherlandi , which burrows exclusively in the soil, in contrast with the former species' preference for logs. Genetic analysis shows that the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider has recently rapidly spread through the area. [2]
A high proportion of bites from the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider—three out of four recorded cases—result in severe symptoms of envenomation, a higher proportion of bites than even the Sydney funnel-web spider. The venom can be successfully treated with the antivenom for the related Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus). [3]
Symptoms of envenomation can occur within 15–20 minutes. Applying pressure and a tourniquet can significantly delay the onset of symptoms and remains a critical part of the management of an Australian funnel-web spider bite. Despite the venom lacking the atraxotoxin or atraxin of A. robustus, the symptoms are very similar to those from a Sydney funnel-web spider bite. Common symptoms include diaphoresis (profuse sweating), hypertension (elevated blood pressure), sinus tachycardia (elevated heart rate), nausea, vomiting and local pain at the bite site. Pulmonary oedema (fluid build-up in the lungs) often comes on early. [4]
Atracidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders, commonly known as Australian funnel-web spiders or atracids. It has been included as a subfamily of the Hexathelidae, but is now recognised as a separate family. All members of the family are native to Australia. Atracidae consists of three genera: Atrax, Hadronyche, and Illawarra, comprising 35 species. Some members of the family produce venom that is dangerous to humans, and bites by spiders of six of the species have caused severe injuries to victims. The bites of the Sydney funnel-web spider and northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider are potentially deadly, but no fatalities have occurred since the introduction of modern first-aid techniques and antivenom.
The redback spider, also known as the Australian black widow, is a species of highly venomous spider believed to originate in South Australia or adjacent Western Australian deserts, but now found throughout Australia, Southeast Asia and New Zealand, with colonies elsewhere outside Australia. It is a member of the cosmopolitan genus Latrodectus, the widow spiders. The adult female is easily recognised by her spherical black body with a prominent red stripe on the upper side of her abdomen and an hourglass-shaped red/orange streak on the underside. Females usually have a body length of about 10 millimetres (0.4 in), while the male is much smaller, being only 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long.
Hadronyche formidabilis, the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider, is a medically significant mygalomorph spider found in Queensland and New South Wales. It is also known as the Northern Rivers funnel-web spider or northern funnel-web spider.
The Sydney funnel-web spider is a species of venomous mygalomorph spider native to eastern Australia, usually found within a 100 km (62 mi) radius of Sydney. It is a member of a group of spiders known as Australian funnel-web spiders. Its bite is capable of causing serious illness or death in humans if left untreated.
A spider bite, also known as arachnidism, is an injury resulting from the bite of a spider. The effects of most bites are not serious. Most bites result in mild symptoms around the area of the bite. Rarely they may produce a necrotic skin wound or severe pain.
Atrax is a genus of venomous Australian funnel web spiders that was first described by O. Pickard-Cambridge in 1877 from the type species Atrax robustus. As of May 2019 it contains only three species: A. robustus, A. sutherlandi, and A. yorkmainorum. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Australian funnel-web spiders in 2018.
Hadronyche is a genus of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by L. Koch in 1873. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Atracidae in 2018.
Delta atracotoxin is a low-molecular-weight neurotoxic polypeptide found in the venom of the Sydney funnel-web spider.
Missulena bradleyi, also known as the eastern mouse spider, is a species of spider belonging to the family Actinopodidae. The spider is endemic to the eastern coast of Australia.
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 versuta, the Blue Mountains funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider found in central New South Wales.
Hadronyche modesta, the Victorian funnel-web spider, is a species of spider found in Victoria, Australia.
Atrax sutherlandi is a species of Australian funnel-web spider found in forests on the far southern coast of New South Wales and in eastern Victoria. It was named after Struan Sutherland, whose work resulted in a successful funnel-web spider antivenom.
Atrax yorkmainorum is a venomous species of Australian funnel-web spider belonging to the Atracidae family and is found in forests in the vicinity of Canberra and south-eastern New South Wales. The genus Atrax was first documented in 1877 and the Atrax yorkmainorum species was first described in 2010.
Hadronyche macquariensis, the Port Macquarie funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider, one of a number of species of Australian funnel-web spiders] found in New South Wales.
The pathophysiology of a spider bite is due to the effect of its venom. A spider envenomation occurs whenever a spider injects venom into the skin. Not all spider bites inject venom – a dry bite, and the amount of venom injected can vary based on the type of spider and the circumstances of the encounter. The mechanical injury from a spider bite is not a serious concern for humans. Some spider bites do leave a large enough wound that infection may be a concern. However, it is generally the toxicity of spider venom that poses the most risk to human beings; several spiders are known to have venom that can cause injury to humans in the amounts that a spider will typically inject when biting.
Illawarra is a monotypic genus of Australian funnel-web spiders containing the single species Illawarra wisharti. It was first described by Michael R. Gray in 2010, and has only been found in the Illawarra region of southern New South Wales. It is a member of the subfamily Atracinae, the Australian funnel-web spiders, a number of whose species produce venom that is dangerous to humans. The generic name comes from the Illawarra region where the spider was found. The species name wisharti honours Graeme Wishart, who collected many mygalomorph spiders in that region.
Hadronyche eyrei, also known as the Eyre Peninsula funnel-web spider, is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1984 by Australian arachnologist Michael R. Gray.
Hadronyche flindersi, also known as the Flinders Ranges funnel-web spider, is a species of funnel-web spider in the Atracidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1984 by Australian arachnologist Michael R. Gray.
Data related to Hadronyche cerberea at Wikispecies 
Media related to Hadronyche cerberea at Wikimedia Commons