# Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) > A medically significant Australian funnel-web spider found around Sydney; large, glossy, and capable of delivering potent venom to humans and pets. Source: https://insectscanner.com/species/sydney-funnel-web-spider/ (updated 2026-10-10) ## Is it dangerous? **Venomous bite.** Atrax robustus produces a potent neurotoxic venom (including atracotoxins) that can cause severe symptoms in humans: local pain, sweating, salivation, breathing difficulty, muscle twitching, and in untreated severe cases respiratory failure. Historically there were human fatalities, but an effective antivenom has been available since 1981. If bitten: apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage to the bitten limb, keep the patient calm and immobile, call emergency services immediately and get to hospital for antivenom if indicated. Do not cut the wound or attempt suction. **Pets:** Dogs and cats appear much less sensitive to funnel-web venom than people, but a bite is still painful and can make a pet unwell. If a pet is bitten, keep it calm and restrained and contact a veterinarian promptly. ## Quick facts - Scientific name: Atrax robustus - Order: Araneae (Spiders) - Family: Atracidae (Funnel-web spiders) - Size: Females up to about 35 mm body length; males up to about 25 mm (legspan larger) - Colours: Glossy black, Dark brown, Blue-black sheen - Habitat: Moist forest and woodland, gardens and urban fringe; burrows under logs, rocks, leaf litter, inside garden refuse, and sometimes in house foundations or under sheds. - Range: Native to the Sydney basin and nearby parts of coastal New South Wales, Australia. - Active: Most active in warmer months (spring to autumn); males especially active at night when searching for mates. - Lifespan: Females can live many years (often over 10 years); males take several years to mature and die within months of maturing. - Effect on plants: Harmless - Pest: yes ## Overview Atrax robustus is a robust, ground-dwelling mygalomorph spider native to the Sydney region of New South Wales, Australia. It builds silk-lined burrows or retreats under logs, rocks and garden debris and is most notable for its medically important neurotoxic venom. Males are more likely to wander into houses in the warmer months while searching for mates; females are more sedentary and remain in or near burrows. Because of its venom and historical human fatalities, A. robustus is one of the best-known Australian spiders. ## How to identify it Adults are stocky, glossy and heavy-bodied with a relatively large carapace and powerful chelicerae (fangs). Colouration ranges from dark brown to black; some preserved or photographed specimens show a blue-black sheen. Legs are stout and the finger-like spinnerets are clearly visible at the rear of the abdomen. Males are generally smaller and more slender than females and have a distinctive mating spur on the second pair of legs. Females are typically bulkier with a broader abdomen. - Glossy, dark (brown to black) robust body with large chelicerae and visible finger-like spinnerets. - Burrow entrances often lined with silk and a short silk funnel; look under logs, rocks and garden debris near moist soils. - Males are slimmer and more mobile; if you see a spider wandering on warm nights in summer near houses in the Sydney region, treat it as a potential funnel-web until identified. - Powerful forward-facing fangs and a heavy build distinguish funnel-webs from many common house spiders. ## Lookalikes - **Blue Mountains funnel-web** (Hadronyche versuta): A closely related, also dangerous funnel-web found in the Blue Mountains and western Sydney; it looks very similar and is told apart by experts using the male leg spur and locality. Treat any bite the same way. - **Eastern mouse spider** (Missulena bradleyi): Mouse spiders have a high, bulbous head region and short spinnerets; males often have a bluish patch on the abdomen. Their bites can also be serious and are given the same first aid. ## Life cycle - **Egg sac:** Females produce a silk egg sac and guard it in the burrow; sac contains dozens to hundreds of eggs. - **Spiderlings:** Spiderlings hatch and remain near or inside the mother's burrow for some time before dispersing. - **Adult:** Mature spiders occupy burrows (females) or roam to find mates (males). Reproduction occurs after courtship; males often die soon after mating. ## Diet and predators - Young eat: Small invertebrates and other tiny arthropods found near the burrow entrance. - Adults eat: Insects, other spiders and occasionally small vertebrates that come near the burrow; captured by fast strike and strong fangs. - Predators of the young: Ants, predatory insects and small reptiles. - Predators of adults: Birds, reptiles and some mammals may prey on adults; parasitic wasps and native predators can attack juveniles. Adult funnel-webs have few natural predators because of their size and defensive behaviour. ## Effect on plants and gardens Does not feed on plants; feeds on invertebrates and occasionally small vertebrates, so net neutral or beneficial for gardens by reducing pest insects. ### How to get rid of it Reduce harbourage: clear piles of wood, rocks and garden debris away from the house, seal gaps in foundations and window frames, reduce mulch and leaf litter near walls, and lower moisture near foundations. If you find a funnel-web, do not handle it; use a long implement or jar to trap and transport it, or contact local pest control or wildlife rescue experienced with venomous spiders. Professionals can relocate or remove spiders safely. Any bite should be treated as a medical emergency rather than a pest-control issue. ## Where and when to find it Look for silk-lined burrow entrances under logs, rocks, garden debris and along retaining walls; males may be found wandering on warm nights in gardens and streets during mating season. - Best time: Spring to autumn (warmer months), especially at night when males search for mates. - Tips: Use long lenses or zoom and keep distance; do not handle. Photograph the burrow entrance and the spider from outside a jar if capturing for identification — if unsure, contact local authorities or pest control experienced with venomous spiders. ## Fun facts - Atrax robustus is one of the few spiders whose venom caused confirmed human fatalities before an antivenom became available. - Male funnel-webs are the ones most often involved in human bite incidents because they wander in search of mates. - The antivenom for funnel-web spider bites was developed in 1981 and has saved many lives since. ## Frequently asked questions ### Are Sydney funnel-web spiders deadly? They are potentially deadly due to a powerful neurotoxic venom; however, modern antivenom and medical care make fatalities rare. Treat any suspected bite as an emergency. ### Do Sydney funnel-web spiders bite people often? Bites are uncommon. Most incidents involve males wandering into homes or lawns. Avoid handling them and seek medical attention if bitten. ### How can I get rid of funnel-web spiders around my house? Remove harbourage (wood piles, dense leaf litter, long mulch), seal gaps in foundations, reduce moisture, and call professional pest control or wildlife services to remove or relocate spiders safely. ### What first aid should I use for a funnel-web spider bite? Apply a pressure-immobilisation bandage to the limb, keep the person calm and still, call emergency services immediately and get to hospital for evaluation and antivenom if indicated. Do not cut or attempt to suck the wound. ### Where are Sydney funnel-web spiders found? They are native to the Sydney basin and nearby coastal areas of New South Wales, Australia, living in moist forest, woodland and suburban gardens. --- More about this species: [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/205276), [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_funnel-web_spider). Identify insects and spiders from a photo with the Insect Scanner iPhone app: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1543946563?pt=126685406&ct=web-markdown&mt=8 Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.