BEWARE OF FUNNEL-WEB SPIDERS
Funnel-Webs are large,robust spiders,up to 6 cm long.Their head and legs are usually a shinny black.If disturbed,they rear up in an alarmingly aggressive threat pose which means 'leave me alone'.You are well advised to do so.
Funnel-Webs prefer damp,cool conditions.Most spiecies shelter and build webs beaneath rocks,logs or other cover and are rarely seen,but a few live in trees.Wandering males fall into swimming poolswhere they can survive for many hours,or they maty enter houses.Do not handle even seemingly dead specimens,be sure to shake out shoes left lying on the floor,check swimming pools before jumping in and don't wander in the dark without shoes.
Funnel-Webs are distributed throughout eastern Australia from Gladstone in Queensland to the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia,as well as in Tasmania.
The Sydney Funnel-web is found as far as Lithgow in the west and from Newcastle to Nowra north to south.
A SERIOUS THREAT TO SAFETY
This is perhaps the most freightening animal on Australia.Its bite is often deadly and,due to human disturbance of its natural habitat,close encouters are frequent.Come summer and autumn,male Funnel-Webs leave their burrows and go walkabout in search of females with which to mate.Although nocturnal,it is often at this time of the year that trouble arises.
Since 1927,when records began to be kept,14 deaths have been attributed to the Sydney funnel-web alone and there are at least 36 other species of funnel-webs thought to exist.
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