|
|
One bite from this creature could kill you in just fifteen minutes.
It's the funnel web spider, and it really is Brilliant But Deadly. |
|
|
It's not exactly the kind of spider you'd want to find in your bath, is it?
|
|
|
Funnel webs are seriously aggressive creatures – that's why Stephen was wearing large protective gloves in the studio, as you can see here.
|
|
|
With the use of a specially designed camera, you can see the spider reared up into an attack stance. |
|
|
The spider has to rear up in order to attack a victim.
It has fangs that are so sharp they could even pierce a human fingernail. But it can't attack without moving its whole body.
|
|
|
Once it's reared up onto its back legs, it lunges down sinking its massive fangs into the unfortunate victim!
|
|
|
Lots of people have had disastrous encounters with funnel webs and the results are always horrendous.
|
|
|
If you were unlucky enough to be bitten by one, your mouth would go numb and your tongue would start to go into spasm…
|
|
|
…excruciating stomach pain would follow, along with uncontrollable sweating and dribbling.
Eww!
|
|
|
So the funnel web comes in at number four in the top five Brilliant But Deadly countdown.
|
|
|
Risk zone – throughout Australia.
|
|
|
Time till death can be as short as fifteen minutes, or as long as a week!
|
|
|
An antivenom is available, but immediate hospital treatment is essential.
|
|
|
There have been at least ten recorded deaths from funnel webs – but the real number is most probably higher.
|
|
|
So there you have it! The funnel web – one spider not to be trifled with!
|
|
