A giant and dangerous funnel-web spider has been brought to an Australian reptile park, where it has been described as the largest of its kind ever seen by the staff. Named “Hemsworth,” after the famous Australian actors Chris, Liam, and Luke Hemsworth, this spider has a leg span of 9.2 centimeters (about 3.6 inches). It surpasses the previous record-holder at the park, a spider named “Hercules,” which measured 7.9 centimeters (3.1 inches) when it was donated in January 2024.
According to Emma Teni, the park’s spider keeper, Hemsworth is notably larger than most funnel-web spiders. Initially, staff believed it to be a female due to its size, but upon closer examination, they realized it was actually a male. Typically, male funnel-web spiders are smaller than females, but Hemsworth defied the norm.
The spider was handed in at one of the park’s drop-off locations in Newcastle, a coastal city located about 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Sydney. Funnel-web spiders, especially those around Sydney, are known for their deadly venom. Before the introduction of antivenom in 1981, funnel-web bites resulted in 13 fatalities, but since then, no deaths have occurred thanks to the life-saving treatments.
As part of the park’s efforts to help combat the deadly effects of spider bites, Hemsworth will have its venom “milked” to produce antivenom. Male funnel-web spiders are chosen for this task because their venom is about six times more potent than that of females.
While Hemsworth may be the largest funnel-web spider at the park, it isn’t the largest spider in Australia. That distinction belongs to the whistling spider, a species of tarantula that can have a leg span of up to 16 centimeters (about 6.3 inches). The whistling spider is also known for making a distinctive noise when threatened.
The Australian Reptile Park encourages residents, particularly in Sydney and surrounding areas, to carefully collect funnel-web spiders and their eggs during breeding season to contribute to the production of antivenom.