Spider venom work on one of two fundamental principles; they are either neurotoxic (attacking the nervous system) or necrotic (attacking tissues surrounding the bite, and in some cases, attacking vital organs and systems). Both sound nasty, but that’s enough of the science stuff; we’re checking our shoes before we put them on!
Brazilian Wandering Spider
In 2010, the Brazilian wandering spider was named in the Guinness World Records as the most venomous spider in the world. It is also aggressive, obviously making the chance of a bite from it more likely. It has a highly potent neurotoxin that can lead to breathing problems then asphyxiation and death in those bitten. Another effect of its venom is priapism, meaning erections that last a long time – hours to days – and can result in permanent impotence. However, the venom is being studied as a possible fix for erectile dysfunction. The spider only needs to inject 6 ug of its venom to kill a 20-gram mouse, and a full venom load is 1.069 mg. Death in humans has been known to occur even after antivenom has been administered.
Six-Eyed Sand Spider
The Six-eyed Sand Spiders‘ Genus is Sicarius, which is latin for “murderer”; a strong hint that this is a toxic beastie. One bite can kill a rabbit in just a few hours. While there are no recorded cases of human fatalities, this is one spider you should avoid. The six-eyed sand spider lives in desert areas in southern Africa, like the Kalahari and Namib deserts. It’s sometimes called the crab spider because it moves like a crab. It buries itself in the sand and waits for its victims to wander by before it strikes. The venom of the six-eyed sand spider is hemolytic/necrotoxic, which causes blood vessel leakage, tissue destruction and multi-organ breakdown. Luckily, this is one shy spider.
Sydney Funnel-Web
Sydney funnel-web spiders are among the most venomous on earth. They have large fangs and unlike some of the other very venomous spiders invariably deliver a full dose of venom instead of dry bites. They are also are more likely to bite than run away and will strike multiple times. A compound in the Sydney funnel-web’s venom called atracotoxin is very dangerous to all primates – including us! One child died within 15 minutes, but that was before the discovery of an antivenom. The funnel-web’s LD-50 is just 0.16mg/kg.
Black Widow Spider
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