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SPECIES PROFILE

Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus)

Atrax

IUCN STATUS

Least Concern

Sydney Funnel-web Spider (Atrax robustus) — Eastern Australia, 100 km radius of Sydney, NSW

CONSERVATION STATUS

Least Concern

CLASS

Arachnida

GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE

Eastern Australia, 100 km radius of Sydney, NSW

DIET

Carnivorous

HABITAT

Moist forests, woodlands, suburban gardens, damp areas

🔬 Classification

PHYLUM

Arthropoda

CLASS

Arachnida

ORDER

Araneae

FAMILY

Atracidae

GENUS

Atrax

📋 Description

SIZE

1.5-3.5 cm body, up to 7 cm leg span; males smaller

COLORATION

Glossy black to dark brown, robust, hairy

ADAPTATIONS

Highly potent venom, strong fangs for prey penetration

🌿 Ecology

HABITAT

Moist forests, woodlands, suburban gardens, damp areas

DIET

Carnivorous

GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Eastern Australia, 100 km radius of Sydney, NSW

REPRODUCTION

Females lay 100-150 eggs, hatch 3-4 weeks, mature years

DIET DETAILS

Feeds on insects, small lizards, frogs, from funnel webs

⚠️ Threats & Conservation

PRIMARY THREATS

None significant, benefits from suburban expansion

💡 Interesting Facts

1

Deadly Bite: The Sydney funnel-web’s atracotoxin venom can kill humans in under two hours without antivenom, making it one of the world’s most dangerous spiders in Blue Mountains’ undergrowth. Since the 1981 antivenom, fatalities have ceased, but its aggressive stance remains a concern in Sydney suburbs.

2

Funnel Weavers: These spiders craft silk-lined, funnel-shaped burrows with tripwires, ambushing prey like beetles in Ku-ring-gai Chase’s logs, striking within milliseconds. Their fangs, capable of piercing shoes, support a population of millions, thriving in urban gardens despite human encroachment.

🔭 Sighting Guide

📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT

Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales has Katoomba and Wentworth Falls undergrowth for spider sightings with caution

Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park in New South Wales features Bobbin Head burrows and logs for spider sightings

Sydney suburbs in New South Wales have Hornsby and Northern Beaches gardens and rocks for spider sightings

🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT

September-March. Spring and summer increase spider activity in forests for burrowing.

🎯 SIGHTING TIPS

Search under logs at night with guides to spot funnel-web burrows.