Sydney Funnel-Web Spider Revealed to Be Three Distinct Species

Researchers confirm that the world's deadliest spider is not a single species, a discovery with significant implications for venom research and antivenom production.

Scientists have identified that the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider, previously thought to be one species (Atrax robustus), is actually a complex of three distinct species.
The newly classified species include Atrax robustus, Atrax montanus found in the Blue Mountains, and Atrax christenseni, a larger species native to Newcastle.
This discovery was prompted by the observation of unusually large specimens, which were brought to researchers by a spider enthusiast, Kane Christensen, after being used for antivenom production.
Existing antivenoms have been confirmed to work effectively across all three species, but the findings may lead to more targeted venom research and improved treatments.
The study, conducted by an international team and the Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity, has been published in the journal 'BMC Ecology and Evolution.'