Hadronyche versuta

Hadronyche versuta, the Blue Mountains funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider found in central New South Wales.

Hadronyche versuta
Male (left) and female (right) Blue Mountains funnel-web spiders (Hadronyche versuta)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Atracidae
Genus: Hadronyche
Species:
H. versuta
Binomial name
Hadronyche versuta
(Rainbow, 1914)
Synonyms

Atrax versuta Rainbow
Aname bicolor Rainbow
Pseudatrax moreaui Rainbow
Atrax bicolor Hickman
Atrax moreaui Main

Taxonomy

A member of the genus Hadronyche, the Blue Mountains funnel-web spider was first described in 1914, by William Joseph Rainbow in the genus Atrax, having been collected from the vicinity of the Jenolan Caves.[1] The species name is derived from the Latin versutus "clever/cunning".[2]

Description

The Blue Mountains funnel-web spider has a similar coloration to most other Australian funnel-web spiders, namely a shiny black carapace and black to dark brown legs and chelicerae. The abdomen of the male has a pale dorsal patch, and that of the female is maroon-brown. The carapace in the male is slightly longer than wide and is roughly square in the female.[3]

Distribution and habitat
Specimen in its funnel-web on display at the Australian Museum

The Blue Mountains funnel-web spider is found in eastern Australia from the Blue Mountains to Illawarra District in New South Wales. Its burrows are found in stumps and rotten logs.[3]

Toxicity

One out of nine recorded cases of being bitten by a Blue Mountains funnel-web spider has resulted in severe symptoms of envenomation. The bite can be successfully treated with the antivenom for the related Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus).[4] Symptoms of envenomation can occur within 15–20 minutes. Applying pressure bandage similar to snake bite treatment 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. Features of envenomation include diaphoresis, local pain at the bite site, pulmonary oedema, hypertension, nausea and vomiting.[5]

Females are suspected of being more venomous than males, possibly because they inject larger amounts of venom. Versutoxin, a neurotoxin very similar to robustoxin produced by the Sydney funnel-web spider, induces an autonomic storm in the victim.[5]

References
  1. Rainbow, William Joseph (1914). "Studies in Australian Araneidae. No. 6. The Terretelariae". Records of the Australian Museum. 10 (8): 187–270 [253–55]. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.10.1914.901.
  2. Brunet, Bert (1997). Spiderwatch: A Guide to Australian Spiders. Reed. p. 87. ISBN 0-7301-0486-9.
  3. Gray, Michael R. (24 November 2010). "A revision of the Australian funnel-web spiders (Hexathelidae: Atracinae)" (PDF). Records of the Australian Museum. 62 (3): 285–392. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.62.2010.1556. ISSN 0067-1975.
  4. Isbister G, Gray M, Balit C, Raven R, Stokes B, Porges K, Tankel A, Turner E, White J, Fisher M (2005). "Funnel-web spider bite: a systematic review of recorded clinical cases". Medical Journal of Australia. 182 (#8): 407–11. doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06760.x. hdl:2440/17349. PMID 15850438.
  5. Miller MK, Whyte IM, White J, Keir PM (2000). "Clinical features and management of Hadronyche envenomation in man". Toxicon. 38 (3): 409–27. doi:10.1016/S0041-0101(99)00171-3. PMID 10669029.

Data related to Hadronyche versuta at Wikispecies Media related to Hadronyche versuta at Wikimedia Commons

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