Venomous Spiders and Human Interactions
There are over 43,000 species of spiders worldwide. Not all spiders are venomous and the ones that are rarely have adverse effects when interacting with humans due to the size difference.
However there are some spiders that have really potent venom that can lead to serious medical complications if you get bitten by one.
Here is a list of 20 of the most venomous spiders on the planet.
1. Australian Funnel web spider
The Australian Funnel-web spider is highly venomous and has the title of the fastest-killing spider. Its venom claims its victim's life in 15 minutes or less.
Due to its potent venom, it's important to immediately seek medical attention if you get bitten by one.
If you get bitten by the funnel web spider you will start to see swelling and redness around the bite wound and you may experience abdominal pain.
2. Brazilian Wandering Spider
It is known for its aggressiveness and defensive stance and won't shy away from attacking if disturbed.
If you still aren't convinced to steer clear from this spider, the Guinness Book of World Records named it the deadliest spider in the world, and rightfully so.
The venom causes a lot of pain and can kill victims in less than an hour.
This won't be the only thing that you'll be worried about if you are a human male as a painful erection is also a symptom of this spider's bite.
3. Red Widow
The red widow spider is native to parts of central and south Florida. Its scientific name is Latrodectus bishopi.
You can identify a red widow spider from its bright red legs and orange oval marking on the abdomen.
The female's venom is what you should be worried about with this spider. It contains a neurotoxin that causes muscle spasms in its victims.
The venom from this spider is highly toxic and is considered 25% more potent than that of a rattlesnake.
The males are smaller than the females and have more elongated bodies.
4. Katipo
The katipo is a small venomous spider native to New Zealand.
The name 'Katipo' is Maori and translates to "night stinger".
Its bite can cause a lot of pain and even induce comas and seizures.
5. Sydney Funnel web spider
This spider species is native to Sydney, Australia as the name suggests.
It is a member of the Australian funnel-web family of spiders.
Its bite is medically significant and can lead to other medical complications and even death if left untreated.
