''Hadronyche cerberea'', the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider found in central New South Wales, Australia.

Taxonomy and naming

German naturalist Ludwig Koch described the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider from a female spider collected in Sydney, and erected the genus ''

Hadronyche ''Hadronyche'' is a genus of venomous Australian funnel-web spiders that was first described by L. Koch in 1873. Originally placed with the curtain web spiders, it was moved to the Hexathelidae in 1980, then to the Atracidae in 2018. Descript ...

'' in 1873. The

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specimen was housed at the

State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart The State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart (german: Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart), abbreviated SMNS, is one of the two state of Baden-Württemberg's natural history museums. Together with the State Museum of Natural History ...

and destroyed during bombing in World War II. A neotype was subsequently selected in 2010 and is housed at the Australian Museum in Sydney.

Description

The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider has a glossy black carapace, matte black or dark brown chelicerae and legs, and a light maroon-brown to dark brown abdomen.

Distribution and habitat

The southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider is found in eastern Australia from the Hunter River in central New South Wales to southern New South Wales. This and the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider ('' Hadronyche formidabilis'') are the only two species of Australian funnel-web spiders that live predominantly in trees. It inhabits dry sclerophyll forest. In

Tallaganda National Park Tallaganda is a national park in New South Wales, Australia. The national park gives its name to '' Phallocephale tallagandensis'', a species of velvet worm that is known to occur there. Tallaganda offers many opportunities for rest and recre ...

and its surrounds in southeastern New South Wales, the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider co-occurs with the funnel-web species ''

Atrax sutherlandi ''Atrax sutherlandi'' is a species of Australian funnel-web spider found in forests on the far southern coast of New South Wales and in eastern Victoria. It was named after Struan Sutherland, whose work resulted in a successful funnel-web spider ...

'', which burrows exclusively in the soil, in contrast with the former species' preference for logs. Genetic analysis shows that the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider has recently rapidly spread through the area.

Toxicity

A high proportion of bites from the southern tree-dwelling funnel-web spider—three out of four recorded cases—result in severe symptoms of envenomation. The venom can be successfully treated with the antivenom for the related Sydney funnel-web spider (''Atrax robustus''). Symptoms of envenomation can occur within 15–20 minutes. Applying pressure and a tourniquet 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. Common symptoms include diaphoresis (profuse sweating),

hypertension Hypertension (HTN or HT), also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms. Long-term high bl ...

(elevated blood pressure), sinus tachycardia (elevated heart rate), nausea, vomiting and local pain at the bite site. Pulmonary oedema (fluid build-up in the lungs) often comes on early.

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2547419 Atracidae Spiders of Australia Spiders described in 1873