Brazilian Wandering Spiders: Bites & Other Facts Brazilian Wandering Spiders: Bites & Other Facts By Jessie Szalay, Live Science Contributor | November 19, 2014 08:26pm ET MORE Credit: Nashepard | Shutterstock Brazilian wandering spiders, also called armed spiders or banana spiders, belong to the genus Phoneutria, which means "murderess" in Greek. And it's no wonder why — it's one of the most venomous spiders on Earth. Its bite can be deadly to humans, especially children, although antivenin makes death unlikely. The Guinness Book of World Records has named the Brazilian wandering spider the world's most venomous spider in multiple years, though, as Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal , an arachnologist at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad, pointed out, "Classifying an animal as deadly is controversial," as the amount of damage depends on the amount of venom injected. Also, a "well-publicized study that an intravenous injection of 0.006 mg of venom from these spiders caused death in mice could be regarded of little concern to humans, since we are many times larger than a mouse," she said.

Classification/taxonomy There are eight species of Brazilian wandering spider, all of which can be found in Brazil. Some of the species also can be found throughout Latin America, from Costa Rica to Argentina, according to an article in the journal American Entomologist . Author Richard S. Vetter, a research associate in the department of entomology at the University of California, Riverside, wrote that specimens of these powerful arachnids have been exported to North American and Europe in banana shipments. However, Vetter noted, in many cases of cargo infestation, the spider in question is a harmless Cupiennius species that is misidentified as a Phoneutria species. The two types of spiders look similar. The taxonomy of Brazilian wandering spiders , according to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), is: Kingdom: Animalia Phoneutria reidyi Size & characteristics Brazilian wandering spiders are large, with bodies reaching up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) and leg spans reaching about 6 inches (15 cm), according to the Conservation Institute . The species vary in color, though all are hairy, mostly brown and may have a black spot on their bellies.

Behavior According to Sewlal, these arachnids "are called wandering spiders because they do not build webs but wander on the forest floor at night, actively hunting prey." They kill by both ambush and direct attack. They spend most of their day hiding under logs or in crevices, and come out to hunt at night. They eat insects, other spiders and sometimes, small amphibians, reptiles and mice. Because of the toxicity of their bite and their alarming-looking posture, these spiders have a reputation for being aggressive. But these behaviors are actually defense mechanisms. "When threatened, they will raise their first two pairs of legs," said Sewlal. This dramatic and intimidating posture exposes the scarlet hair surrounding the fangs on some species. Their threatened stance serves as a warning, indicating to predators that the poisonous spider is ready to attack. "Their bites are a means of self-defense and only done if they are provoked intentionally or by accident," Sewlal said. A Brazilian wandering spider guards her egg sac. Credit: Dr. Morley Read Shutterstock Mating In almost all spider species, the female is larger than the male. This dimorphism is no different in the Brazilian wandering spider.

Males approach females cautiously when attempting to mate, according to the biology department at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Males perform a dance to get females' attention, and males often fight each other over the female. The female can be picky, and she often turns down many males before choosing the one she will mate with. Once she does pick one, the male needs to watch out; females often attack the males once copulation is finished. The female then can store the sperm in a separate chamber from the eggs until she is ready to fertilize them. She will lay up to 1,000 eggs, which are kept safe in a spun-silk egg sac. Brazilian wandering spiders typically live for one or two years. Bite Brazilian wandering spiders' venom is a complex cocktail of toxins, proteins and peptides, according to the Natural History Museum in Karlsruhe, Germany. The venom affects ion channels and chemical receptors in victims' neuromuscular systems. After a human is bitten by one of these spiders, he or she may experience initial symptoms such as severe burning pain at the site of the bite, sweating and goose bumps, Sewlal said.

Within 30 minutes, symptoms become systemic and include high or low blood pressure, fast or a slow heartbeat, nausea, abdominal cramping, hypothermia, vertigo, blurred vision, convulsions and excessive sweating associated with shock. People who are bitten by a Brazilian wandering spider should seek medical attention immediately. In addition to intense pain and possible medical complications, the bite of a Brazilian wandering spider can deliver a long, painful erection to human males. The venom boosts nitric oxide, a chemical that increases blood flow. Several studies have looked at incorporating the venom into drugs for erectile dysfunction. However, these bites are rare, and envenomations are usually mild, Vetter said. He cited a Brazilian study , published in the journal Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo in 2008, that revealed that only 2.3 percent of bites were treated with antivenin. (The other bites did not contain enough venom to require it.) The study also pointed out that, as of that year, only 10 deaths had ever been attributed to the spider's bite in Brazil.

According to the study, "cases of serious envenomation are rare (0.5 percent)." "It is unlikely that the spider would inject all of its venom into you, as this venom is not only needed as a means of defense but to immobilize prey," Sewlal agreed. "So if it did inject all of its venom, it [would] have to wait until its body manufactured more before it could hunt." That would leave the spider vulnerable to being attacked by predators. Furthermore, Sewlal pointed out that venom production requires a lot of a spider's resources and time. "So if the spider were to attack frequently and use up all of its venom, it [would] be safe to assume that it has a ready food supply to replace the energy and resources used. This situation does not exist in the wild." Additional resources Learn more about Brazilian wandering spiders from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse . See a gallery of the world's largest spiders , including the Brazilian wandering spider, at the Conservation Institute. Find a spider in your bananas ? It may or may not be a deadly species, according to the University of California, Riverside. Editor's Recommendations 3 Scariest Spiders: Which 8-Legged Beasts to Watch Out For!

Credit: Nashepard | Shutterstock Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of more people than spiders. The eight-legged beasts boast a menacing appearance, and some pack a deadly, poisonous bite. Spiders form the largest part of the arachnid family, with about 40,000 different species of spiders crawling the planet. And about a dozen of these species are deadly enough to kill a human. We take you on a tour of three of the deadliest spiders in the world, which can lurk anywhere from a forest floor to your own backyard. Brazilian wandering spider The Brazilian wandering spider , or banana spider, has repeatedly ranked as the world's most venomous spider in "Guinness World Records." Fittingly, it belongs to the genus Phoneutria, which means "murderess" in Greek. [ Creepy! Amazing Photos of Spiders ] The spider's bite is potent enough to kill a human within minutes if antidote isn't delivered. Even with antivenom, on rare occasions, the bite can still prove deadly. Just 6 micrograms of venom are enough to kill a 20-gram mouse, and the spider carries more than 10 times that amount of venom in reserve.

In addition, the spider's bite can cause a long, painful erection in men, scientists discovered in 2007. The venom boosts levels of nitric oxide, a chemical that increases blood flow, and some have considered using the venom in drugs for erectile dysfunction. Found mostly in South America, the large brown spider, which sometimes sports a black spot on its belly, can reach up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in body length, with a leg span of 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm). The spider has a trademark move, raising its two front legs in an intimidating pose when frightened. This pose reveals the arachnid's red-haired fangs. The "wandering" part of its name comes from the spider's hunting habits. Instead of using a web to catch prey, the Brazilian spider "wanders" around and hunts on the ground. Black widow spider The ominously named black widow is a shiny black spider, but the females have an even more ominous hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens, as if to say "time is running out." They earned the name "widow" because the females of many species eat the males after mating.

Several species of black widow spiders exist, residing in temperate areas around the world. They are the most venomous spiders in North America. Before the antivenom was discovered, about 5 percent of black widow bites proved fatal. These spiders like to lurk in woodpiles, sheds, outdoor furniture and chain-link fences, but they have a special predilection for old-fashioned outhouses. (Perhaps that's where these lyrics from the Australian country song about the black widow's cousin the redback spider come from: "There was a redback on the toilet seat/When I was there last night. I didn't see him in the dark/But boy, I felt his bite!") Fortunately, modern home plumbing and heating make such outhouse encounters rare. Funnel web spider The deadly Australian funnel web spiders owe their name to the conical webs these creatures use as burrows or prey traps. In fact, there are three different families of funnel web spiders, only some of which are dangerous to humans. The Hexathelidae family — the dangerous variety — includes about 40 species in Australia, such as the notorious Sydney funnel spider and its tree-dwelling cousins.

These spiders are usually black or brown; sport a shiny, hard, slightly hairy covering called a carapace on the front of their bodies; and range between 0.4 and 2 inches (1 to 5 cm) in body length. Nocturnal creatures, they prefer humid climates. Most live on the ground, but some dwell in trees. The bite can be life-threatening, especially in children, but is usually nonfatal if antivenom is administered. So be careful of these little, leggy beasts. But if all these eight-legged horrors scare you, keep in mind that most deadly spiders are shy and attack only when threatened. Follow Tanya Lewis on Twitter and Google+ . Follow us @livescience , Facebook & Google+ . Original article on Live Science . Editor's Recommendations Brazilian Wandering Spider – The Most Poisonous In The World Brazilian Wandering Spider – The Most Poisonous In The World The Most Venomous Spider On Earth: Phoneutria (The Wandering Brazilian) He’s big, ugly and more importantly, he’s the most poisonous spider in the world… The Brazilian wandering spider, scientifically known as Phoneutria, is officially the most venomous spider in the world.

The Brazilian Wanderer even received certification for its deadliness, as it’s listed in the Guinness World Records 2012 as the most poisonous spider in the world. This wicked critter can have a leg span of up to 13–15 cm (4–5 inches) and its body varies from 17 to 48 mm. The spider is highly dangerous and well known for its aggressively and every encounter with it may lead to death. Even its name indicates how deadly it is, the word Phoneutria means murderer in Greek… Did we mention that it’s highly aggressive? If you’re thinking you can fight it off with a broom, as we do with most of our eight-legged opponents, think again! The Brazilian wandering spider has been known to frequently climb up the broom handle and bite the human who’s trying to fight him off. Whenever the deadly spider is angry, it hops on it’s back legs and reveals his distinctive red jaws as a threat signal towards possible aggressors. The Phoneutria genus includes 8 documented species, and all are equally lethal.

They’re called wandering spiders due to the fact that instead of lurking in a lair or taking care of a web, this poisonous villain roams the jungle floor in search of prey during the night, and hide in termite mounds or such other hide-aways during the day. What happens if you get bitten? Well… first step, pray you survive! The venom of the wandering spider contains high levels of seritonin, making it 18 times more deadly than the black widow. Once injected, the poison causes tremors and pain throughout the entire body. As if the pain itself weren’t enough, the venom also has an awkward and embarrassing side-effect on men: the chemicals stimulate the brain inducing a persistent lifting of the male reproductive organ, which is extremely painful, and often, victims who survive, never escape this side-effect. And below you can watch a couple of videos which illustrate just how dangerous the Brazilian Wandering Spider So now that we’ve taken a look at the world’s most poisonous spider, don’t you wanna know who were the runner ups? Here’s list of the top 9 most poisonous spiders in the world, after the Brazilian Wandering Spider. 1. The Yellow Sac Spider Do you think this little critter looks adorable?

Well think again… It may be the least venomous spider in this list, but nevertheless, if you get bit by this guy, you’ll most likely end up with necrosis and dead tissues. [caption id="attachment_38485" align="alignnone" width="327"] This is just a mild bite by the Yellow Sac Spider but it could be a lot worse[/caption] 2. Fringed Ornamental Tarantula Although tarantulas are commonly used as exotic pets, this breed is quite dangerous, and they have even been known to induce comas with their bite. They are 18 cm long, and unlike other tarantulas if you get bitten by such a spider, you might end up in the emergency room. 3. The Chinese Bird Spider This spider is also a tarantula and a pretty dangerous one for that matter. It’s also known as the Earth Tiger, due to its enormous size: it has a leg span of of up to 8 inches (20 cm). Even a small dose of its venom can bring down a small mammal in a matter of seconds.

A shot of 0.70mg/kg is enough to cause death to its victim so you most certainly do not wanna mess with this tarantula. 4. Mouse Spider This amazing spider may look “friendly” but its bite is very severe. However, they have been known to give “dry” bites, which means they just bite without injecting venom, but when it does bite, it can be lethal for human beings. Luckily, their habitat is far from those of people, so just steer clear of them. 5. Brown and Chilean Recluse Spider This spider is extremely dangerous and it’s venom has been known to cause necrosis at the bite zone and the potential for the wound to grow to 10 inches and become gangrenous sending the infection in the entire body. 6. Redback Spider The redbacks are related to the Black Widow family, but they’re less poisonous, they have caused 14 deaths before an antivenom was developed and the symptoms of the bite also include swollen lymph nodes, migraines, fever, nausea and shaking. 7. Black Widow Spider Now who hasn’t heard of the Black Widow?

It’s one of the most poisonous spiders in the world, with bite effects that include: extended muscular spasms and even spinal or cerebral paralysis, but it rarely kills. 8. Sydney Funnel-Web This spider is going to bite, run away, and then come back again for another bite. Before the antivenom for this bite was made, a child dies in under 15 minutes from the attack. All it takes is 0.16mg/kg of this little dude’s venom for someone to die. 9. Six-Eyed Sand Spider And last but not least, here’s the sand spider who’s bite causes blood to coagulate inside your vessels leading to death. Luckily, the live in remote areas and face-to-spider encounters are rare. Post Views: 383 (new views system) | Written with love and coolness by admin on March 24, 2012 in Awesome Stuff How do you rate this article? (1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5) Is this cool enough?

You can share it on Related awesomeness from CoolWeirdo: World's Most Deadly Spider - Brazilian Wandering Spider - YouTube World's Most Deadly Spider - Brazilian Wandering Spider Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Sep 5, 2013 The deadly Brazilian wandering spider, aka banana or armed spider, is considered the world's most venomous & deadliest spider by the Guinness Book of World records. They are found in the tropical regions of Central & South America and are called wandering spiders because they roam the jungle floor at night. During the day they reside in termite mounds, under rocks and logs, or in banana plants. Sometimes they are even found in bananas harvested then shipped around the world. The Brazilian Wandering Spider has a distinctive reaction when threatened. They stand up while putting their front legs in the air and rock from side to side.

Their venom from their bite has a neurotoxin which can cause breathing problems and loss of muscle control along with inflammation and intense pain. The deadly spider bite's causes paralysis and asphyxia, a potentially fatal lack of oxygen to the body. Result... Human Death. Priapism, an uncomfortable and long lasting erection, can also occur which has led scientist to study their venom for possible use in erectile dysfunction treatments. These super deadly Brazilian Wandering Spiders tend to be found around areas of human habitation and inject venom into 9 out of 10 of their bites coupled with their tendency to hide in dark places such as houses, cars, and in boots they have earned the title of world's most deadly spider. Other Deadly Epic Wildlife Spider Videos -- Deadly New Spider Species -- Giant Spider Camel Spider Iraq -- Giant Spider Eating Bird -- Child Spider Eaters 8-Legged Nightmares? The World's 3 Deadliest Spiders 8-Legged Nightmares? The World's 3 Deadliest Spiders By Tanya Lewis, Staff Writer Pin it Share Nothing strikes fear into the hearts of more people than spiders. The eight-legged beasts boast a menacing appearance, and some pack a deadly, poisonous bite.

Spiders form the largest part of the arachnid family, with about 40,000 different species of spiders crawling the planet. And about a dozen of these species are deadly enough to kill a human. We take you on a tour of three of the deadliest spiders in the world, which can lurk anywhere from a forest floor to your own backyard. Brazilian wandering spider The Brazilian wandering spider , or banana spider, has repeatedly ranked as the world's most venomous spider in "Guinness World Records." Fittingly, it belongs to the genus Phoneutria, which means "murderess" in Greek. [ Creepy! Amazing Photos of Spiders ] The spider's bite is potent enough to kill a human within minutes if antidote isn't delivered. Even with antivenom, on rare occasions, the bite can still prove deadly. Just 6 micrograms of venom are enough to kill a 20-gram mouse, and the spider carries more than 10 times that amount of venom in reserve. In addition, the spider's bite can cause a long, painful erection in men, scientists discovered in 2007.

The venom boosts levels of nitric oxide, a chemical that increases blood flow, and some have considered using the venom in drugs for erectile dysfunction. Found mostly in South America, the large brown spider, which sometimes sports a black spot on its belly, can reach up to 2 inches (5 centimeters) in body length, with a leg span of 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm). The spider has a trademark move, raising its two front legs in an intimidating pose when frightened. This pose reveals the arachnid's red-haired fangs. The "wandering" part of its name comes from the spider's hunting habits. Instead of using a web to catch prey, the Brazilian spider "wanders" around and hunts on the ground. Black widow spider The ominously named black widow is a shiny black spider, but the females have an even more ominous hourglass-shaped mark on their abdomens, as if to say "time is running out." They earned the name "widow" because the females of many species eat the males after mating. Several species of black widow spiders exist, residing in temperate areas around the world. They are the most venomous spiders in North America.

Before the antivenom was discovered, about 5 percent of black widow bites proved fatal. These spiders like to lurk in woodpiles, sheds, outdoor furniture and chain-link fences, but they have a special predilection for old-fashioned outhouses. (Perhaps that's where these lyrics from the Australian country song about the black widow's cousin the redback spider come from: "There was a redback on the toilet seat/When I was there last night. I didn't see him in the dark/But boy, I felt his bite!") Fortunately, modern home plumbing and heating make such outhouse encounters rare. Funnel web spider The deadly Australian funnel web spiders owe their name to the conical webs these creatures use as burrows or prey traps. In fact, there are three different families of funnel web spiders, only some of which are dangerous to humans. The Hexathelidae family — the dangerous variety — includes about 40 species in Australia, such as the notorious Sydney funnel spider and its tree-dwelling cousins.

These spiders are usually black or brown; sport a shiny, hard, slightly hairy covering called a carapace on the front of their bodies; and range between 0.4 and 2 inches (1 to 5 cm) in body length. Nocturnal creatures, they prefer humid climates. Most live on the ground, but some dwell in trees. The bite can be life-threatening, especially in children, but is usually nonfatal if antivenom is administered. So be careful of these little, leggy beasts. But if all these eight-legged horrors scare you, keep in mind that most deadly spiders are shy and attack only when threatened. 3. Brazilian wandering spider - The world's most dangerous spiders (GRAPHIC IMAGES) - Pictures - CBS News The world's most dangerous spiders (GRAPHIC IMAGES) Next Spider in black The creepy-crawly world of spiders recently got a new member : Aphonopelma johnnycashi, a tarantula species named for the late country singer Johnny Cash. The spider is abundant near Folsom State Prison in California, where Cash recorded a famous live album in 1968. The tarantula's dark coloration also reminded researchers of Cash's preference for black attire.

If you end up getting bitten by adult male shown here, you may end up with a bee-sting-like irritation . But consider yourself lucky; unlike Aphonopelma johnnycashi, the following spiders are considered the most dangerous on Earth. Credit: Dr. Chris A. Hamilton 12. Sac spiders The nasty-looking wound has been attributed to a sac spider by its apparent victim, Andrew Leigh of South Africa. Credit: Andrew Leigh Sac spiders: Skin-killing wounds These spiders are usually pale in color but vary in species. They can cause problems for humans in more ways that one; at least one version of this spider is thought to be attracted to the smell of gasoline-a lure so powerful that the critters will build nests in engines. Credit: JMK via Wikimedia 11. False widow spider Ranking spiders by dangerousness is largely a subjective thing; some have more powerful venom, while others apparently bite more often. But here's a loose ranking based on, if nothing else, downright scariness. There's nothing false about the threat from the false widow spider, often cited as the most venomous in the United Kingdom.

Credit: Joaquim Alves Gaspar/Wikimedia Commons False widow: Real pain British pro soccer player James Gray found that out the hard way in February 2016, when a spider bite, attributed to a false widow, landed him in the hospital. He needed surgery to cut out the subsequent infection on his right arm, leaving a nasty hole, a photo of which he posted on Twitter . Credit: James Phillip Gray via Twitter 10. Katipo spider If the back end of this New Zealand spider looks familiar, that's because it has some very nasty, very infamous sisters: American widows. Credit: Jess Costall via Wikimedia Commons Katipo spiders: No squishing Considered to be one of the most poisonous creatures in New Zealand, Katipo spiders are considered endangered , and they're shy critters, but their venom packs a punch, and skinny dipping anywhere in their territory would be very, very unwise . Credit: Jess Costall via Wikimedia Commons 9. Brown widow spider The neurotoxin of the female brown widow, shown here, is at least as potent as that of the much-feared black widow. That said ... Credit: AP Brown widow: Shy biters ...

brown widows are also shy critters, and their bites are thought to be less capable of significant venom transfer, compared with their black cousins. In other words, though her bite is considered dangerous, the effects of a brown widow's venom are usually confined to the bite area and surrounding tissue. Credit: AP Pale cousin: White widows Not every venomous button spider dresses in black. This member of the widow, or Latrodectus, genus, is called pallidus, for obvious reasons. It's unclear why the Republic of Kazakhstan honored this striking spider with an official stamp, but what we do know is this: The white color is not a signal of defeat for this spider. Not if you've been bitten by one. Credit: Republic of Kazakhstan 8. Hairy mystery spider Sometimes the panic from a suspected spider infestation can be just as dangerous as a bite itself. In 2012, this insect, at first suspected to be a previously undiscovered species of tarantula, caused a wave of fear in the Indian state of Assam, with colonies of them reportedly attacking villagers and causing painful swelling.

Credit: AP Hairy mystery spider: Nasty bites Two victims who reportedly were bitten later died in Tinsukia district of Assam. But authorities later said they weren't sure whether the patients perished as a result of an animal bite ... or from treatment by witch doctors who cut them with razor blades to drain the wounds. In the aftermath of the panic, scientists have expressed doubt that any spider-newly discovered or otherwise-was to blame for deaths. Credit: AP 7. Black widow spider The bite of a female black widow is thought to be 15 times more potent than that of a rattlesnake. A bite can cause severe muscle pain and spasms, as well as abdominal cramps, for up to a week. More than 2,000 people report black widow bites yearly, but deaths are rare these days. Credit: CDC/James Gathany 6. Brown recluse spider If you see a brown spider with a violin shape on its back, proceed with caution: You're looking at a brown recluse. Most bites are minor, but occasionally, skin around a brown recluse bite will become necrotic, turning a dark color and becoming a deep, open sore as it dies.

Credit: Carolyn Kaster/AP Brown recluse: Shutting down schools Fear over brown recluses is so high that at least one Pennsylvania elementary school shut down last year after nests were discovered there. The spiders were thought to have hitched a ride into the school via a produce box. Credit: CDC Brown recluse bite Why the panic? Well, this is what a brown recluse bite looks like. The woman who suffered this bite on her thigh suffered a necrotic ulcer that took weeks to heal. Credit: Centers for Disease Control 5. Sicarius spiders These spiders, including this Sicarius terrosus, have a venom so dangerous it can kill tissue, thin blood and blood vessels, and cause open sores nearly an inch in diameter. In an experimental setting, rabbits bitten by these spiders died in a matter of hours, though there isn't a large body of evidence about the poison's effect on humans. Credit: Beliar Spider via Wikimedia Commons Sicarius spiders: Now you see me ... Drop for drop, some Sicarius spiders are thought to have some of the most potent venom out there, perhaps even more destructive than that of the recluse family.

That said, Sicarius spiders don't actively seek a fight, nor do they roam looking for food. They strike from ambush, burying themselves in sand or dry soil before patiently waiting for prey. Credit: SaminalPlanet via YouTube Sicarius spiders: Careful handling The owner of this Sicarius spider had to relocate it to a pen with higher walls to "prevent escape," given that it's "fast as heck and packs a nasty punch." Credit: agkistrodon_bilineatus_jack via Instagram Sicarius spiders: Sweet disposition? Sam Sheikali, the owner of this Sicarius spider, has never been bitten by her. "I'm unsure if it's Sicarius hahni or Sicarius terrosus, but the venom toxicity is essentially the same," he tells CBS News. "Compared to the nasty attitudes of my other spiders and scorpion, she is cuddly as can be ... It's very, very difficult to get her to display any defensiveness." Credit: SaminalPlanet via Instagram 4. Chilean recluse spider Among the recluse spiders, this one is often considered to be the most dangerous. Bite victims may suffer symptoms ranging from mild skin irritation to severe premature death of skin or other cells.

Rarely, death can occur; one study cites death in about three to four percent of cases. Credit: CDC Chilean recluse bite According to the Centers for Disease Control, this patient displayed severe necrosis one week after being bitten by a Chilean recluse. Wounds such as these may take months, or even years, to heal, and can leave deep scars. Credit: CDC 3. Brazilian wandering spider Remember those panicked reports of people finding deadly spiders-perhaps the deadliest on Earth-in bunches of bananas? Those reports referred to the Brazilian wandering spider, whose bite can cause severe burning, sweating, and goose bumps followed by high or low blood pressure, nausea, hypothermia, blurred vision, vertigo, and convulsions. The Guinness Book of World Records considers the Brazilian wandering spider the most venomous in the world. Hundreds of bites are reported annually, but a powerful anti-venom prevents deaths in most cases. Credit: Shutterstock via LiveScience 2. Redback spider Look familiar? This is Australia's answer to a black widow, the redback spider. Like black widows, only the female redback is considered worthy of your fear ... or maybe just respect from a distance.

Up to 10,000 people are bitten by these critters in Australia every year. Credit: Getty Images Redback spider: Quick killers Deaths from untreated bites are rare, but roughly one-third of bite victims suffer from some sort of negative effect, including nausea, vomiting, abdominal or chest pain and hypertension, and infants can die within hours of being bitten. One woman reportedly died five minutes after being bitten in the neck. Credit: Getty Images 1. Funnel web spider The venom from this spider is packed with at least 40 different toxic proteins, which can overload the body's nervous system and reportedly kill someone in minutes . "With a funnel web bite to the torso, you're dead," Dr. Robert Raven of the Queensland Museum has said . "No other spider can claim that reputation." Credit: Getty Images Funnel web: No match for modern meds That said, there's probably no need to panic if you come face-to-face with one of these; due to advances in anti-venom, there has been no death from a funnel web bite in Australia since the 1980s.

Credit: Getty Images 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World - Conservation Institute 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World Sep 7 • Nature • 19375 Views • Comments Off on 10 Most Poisonous Animals in the World When you think of poisonous animals, what springs to mind? Spiders? Scorpions? Snakes? Jellyfish? Most of the world’s most poisonous animals are either reptiles, arachnids, or undersea inhabitants. Here is a rundown of the top 10 most poisonous animals in the world, counting down to the winner. 10. Puffer Fish Puffer Fish (LisaSabin-Wilson/Flickr) Puffer fish may be cute, but they are also quite dangerous. Most puffer fish swim in the waters surrounding Japan, China, and the Philippines, as well as Mexico. Puffer fish, despite being venomous, are also edible when prepared properly following food safety measures. Being as preparing the dish incorrectly can lead to food poisoning and consequent death, properly prepared dishes are considered a delicacy, and can sell for quite a bit of money. Expect to pay as much as $200 to try a dish!

The puffer fish’s skin, muscle tissue, liver, and gonads all contain a toxin known as tetrodoxin. If you are so unfortunate as to consume this toxin, you will experience a tingling sensation, burning in your mouth, nausea, headache, and speech and coordination problems. If you ingest too much, you will experience convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ultimately death. 9. Poison Dart Frog Poison Dart Frog (Dalem77/Flickr) Another deceptively cute animal, the poison dart frog is small and brightly patterned. Typically it lives in South and Central America or Hawaii. The poison the dart frog’s glands contain is called batrachotoxin. This toxin blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death. 8. Inland Taipan Inland Taipan (Markus Oulehla/Flickr) Many snakes are poisonous, but the inland taipan is among the most deadly on the planet. The inland taipan lives in Australia and has a neurotoxin in its venom which is capable of killing a person within 45 minutes. Thankfully, the inland taipan’s bite can readily be treated.

Amazingly enough, there are no reported deaths caused by this snake. 7. Brazilian Wandering Spider Brazilian Wandering Spider (Andreas Kay/Flickr) This spider is also known as a “banana spider." It is regularly confused with the golden silk orb-weaver, because that species of spider has bright yellow coloration and is also often colloquially (and incorrectly) referred to as a “banana spider." Golden orb spiders are relatively harmless, despite their frightening appearance. Brazilian wandering spiders on the other hand are decidedly not. They were rated as the most venomous animal on the planet by the Guinness Book of World Records in 2007. The high dosage of serotonin in the Brazilian wandering spider’s venom is extremely painful. The neurotoxins present can cause paralysis and death. 6. Stonefish Stone Fish (Warner Bates/Flickr) Divers should be wary of this venomous fish, which disguises itself with its camouflaged appearance and can easily blend in with rocks on the seabed. Usually the stonefish is found lurking above the Tropic of Capricorn. The spines on the fish’s back carry a toxin that can cause swelling, necrosis of tissue, paralysis, shock, and ultimately death.

While the toxin is treatable, treatment must take place immediately. Being as that is generally challenging or impossible when one takes in a toxin while swimming along the ocean floor, the stonefish is quite deadly. If possible, the victim should immerse the wound site in hot water while traveling to the nearest hospital. 5. Death Stalker Scorpion Death Stalker Scorpion (Anthony/Flickr) This scorpion is pale yellow in color and translucent in appearance and usually found in the Middle East and North Africa. While it may look delicate and ephemeral, the threat posed by this scorpion is quite substantial. Venom from a death stalker scorpion can cause a good deal of pain as well as respiratory failure. Those with heart problems or allergies are particularly likely to die from a sting. 4. Blue-Ringed Octopus Blue-Ringed Octopus (Saspotato/Flickr) This tiny octopus is about the size of a golf ball, and could easily sit in the palm of your hand. Nonetheless, you definitely wouldn’t want it to, since it is quite nearly the most venomous animal in the sea. Blue-ringed octopi make their homes around Australia, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Papua, New Guinea.

The venom from this animal can cause blindness, nausea, paralysis and respiratory failure, as well as death. 3. Marbled Cone Snail Marbled Cone Snail (Picdd/Flickr) This cone-shaped snail shell contains a creature which can deliver one seriously dangerous venom. Mild symptoms may include pain, inflammation, numbness, and tingling. If you get a high dose of venom, you will experience vision loss, respiratory failure, and muscle paralysis—and eventually death. There is no anti-venom available, so there is no way to treat the victim. Because of this, the marbled cone snail as rated as one of the most dangerous animals in the world. 2. King Cobra King Cobra (Michael Allen Smith/Flickr) Cobras have a reputation for deadliness, and for good reason. They are typically found in the jungles of India and China. They are recognizable by their wide hoods, and are able to spit their toxins. The toxin is immensely painful, and once it enters the blood stream, it can cause death within a very short time. Seven ml of venom from this animal is enough to kill an elephant—or twenty human beings. 1.

Box Jellyfish Box Jellyfish (David Lambert/Flickr) This jellyfish is widely regarded as the most poisonous animal in the world. It floats in the waters surrounding Asia and Australia, and is so transparent that it is nearly invisible if you are not looking for it. The tentacles of the box jellyfish produce nematocysts. Once the toxin reaches the blood, blood pressure increases. This can lead to a heart attack, and ultimately death. If stung by one of these jellyfish, do not apply ice or heat. If you have some vinegar, try soaking the wound site for half an hour while you drive to the nearest hospital for aid. Some of these animals are easy to avoid while others may pose more of a challenge. But now that you are aware of what they look like and the kinds of dangers they pose to human life, you should be better equipped to steer around them in the wild. Thankfully there are antivenins available for many of these toxins, and prompt medical treatment can often save the life of a victim.

Brazilian wandering spider: Top 10 things you need to know about world's deadliest spider - Mirror Online News Brazilian wandering spider: Top 10 things you need to know about world's deadliest spider One family had to have their home fumigated after spotting the Brazilian wandering spider on a banana - but how dangerous is it? Share Brazilian wandering spider (Photo: rex) Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email A bunch of bananas from Sainsbury's were found to be infested with the lethal Brazilian wandering spider , forcing a family to evacuate their home. Sainsbury's have insisted that the occurrence is rare, and said: "We do have rigorous controls on imported products at all stages - from harvesting to transportation." But what is the Brazilian wandering spider - and how dangerous is it? Here are the top 10 facts you need to know about the world's most toxic spider . 1. Their Greek name Phoneutria actually means "murderess" - an indication of their deadly bite. 2. They are known as the wandering spider because they do not build webs, but instead walk the jungle floor at night looking for prey.

The spiders are nocturnal, and so find places to hide during the day. This is why they are so dangerous, because they hide in houses and cars, where they are easily disturbed by humans. 3. They may be considered the most toxic spider, but they are not the biggest. Their leg-span reaches up to five inches. 4. When the spiders are defending themselves, they lift their body up on their hind legs in a defensive display. The first two pairs of legs are lifted high in the air, while the spider sways from side to side. 5. The Brazilian wandering spider appears in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most venomous spider. Guinness World Records says that while the spider is the most toxic, an effective antivenom is available and few fatalities occur. 6. If you are bitten, chances are nothing bad will happen. Out of 7,000 cases, only 10 people died from its bite. The spider only inject venom in approximately one-third of bites, and even then it's usually only a small quantity. 7. The venom causes extreme pain and inflammation, loss of muscle control and breathing problems, resulting in paralysis and eventual asphyxiation.

Despite this, the Brazilian wandering spider's venom is being studied by scientists. 8. The spider's bite can cause an unwanted erection in men, sometimes lasting for four hours. Scientists are hoping they can use the spider's venom in erectile dysfunction medication. 9. This is not the first time Brazilian wandering spiders have made their way to the UK. In 2005, pub chef Matthew Stevens was bitten by a spider hiding in a banana shipment in Bridgwater. Due to quick medical care he survived, but still took nearly a week to recover from the bite. He said: "I was never scared of spiders before but I certainly am now. I do feel very lucky, it was extremely painful." 10. Then, in 2008, Co-op worker Kate Whitmore spotted the deadly spider while stacking boxes of bananas in Kent. The 25-year-old mother-of-two said: "I looked down and noticed this thing. I screamed for my supervisor. "I'm not usually scared of spiders, but it was huge and creepy and had long hairy legs." The RSPCA captured the spider without it biting anyone.

Like us on Facebook Most Read Most Recent Most Read Most Recent Brazilian wandering spider: World's most venomous arachnid on the loose in Britain after being discovered in Aldi bananas - Mirror Online News Brazilian wandering spider: World's most venomous arachnid on the loose in Britain after being discovered in Aldi bananas Keith Hobbs and wife Laura fled with their four children when told that it was probably the Brazilian wandering spider, which can have legs up to 6in (15cm) long and kill with its venomous bite Share Fears: Eggs, believed to belong to a Brazilian Wandering Spider, found in a pack of bananas Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email The world's deadliest spider is feared to be on the loose in Britain after a family spotted a nest in a bunch of Aldi bananas. Keith Hobbs and wife Laura fled with their four children when told that it was probably the Brazilian wandering spider, which can have legs up to 6in (15cm) long and kill with its venomous bite. They found the cocoon at their home in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, on Thursday.

Deputy head teacher Mr Hobbs, 32, told The Sun: "As soon as we knew what they were we just grabbed the kids, who were in their pyjamas, and ran out the house. "We've spent the night in a hotel room. It's terrifying - it's like a bad dream." The family's nightmare began when Mrs Hobbs' parents bought them the bananas from an Aldi store in Hinckley, Leicestershire. Scared: Keith Hobbs and family After she opened the bag and found the nest her husband called police and also contacted wildlife experts. The Aldi shop was temporarily shut yesterday but reopened in the afternoon after no spiders were found. Aldi has reportedly agreed to pay for the Hobbs' hotel bill and for a pest control firm to fumigate their home. Geoff Grewcock, who runs the Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, said: "We had a call from the family who had bought the bananas from Aldi and there was a clump of eggs in there. "We had to determine what the eggs were and we thought on the balance of probabilities it was probably eggs from a Brazilian Wandering Spider. "They can kill you, people who get bitten do die.

I have dealt with scorpions and Black Widow spiders before, but never one of these. It is frightening. "My advice if you see one would just be to run away as fast as possible and then call the police. Don't be brave. The bananas came from Brazil and the question now is where is the adult? "We searched all around the house and their car, and also the mother-in-law's car as she had picked them up as well." An Aldi spokesman said: "Recent reports alleging that the eggs of the Brazilian Wandering Spider have been found in a bunch of bananas at the Aldi store in Hinckley are unsubstantiated. "The bananas in question have been removed from the store and sent for expert analysis. "The Hinckley store in question has now been reopened and customers should be reassured their safety remains our number one priority." A spokeswoman for Warwickshire Police said: 'We were called at 10.10pm on June 4 to St Nicholas Park Drive in Nuneaton where a family were thought to have found Brazilian wandering spider eggs in a bag of bananas believed to have been bought from the Aldi store in Watling Street, Hinckley. "As a precaution, the family address is being fumigated.

An officer attended the store at 7.15am yesterday and the store was closed at 8.15am in case a spider had got loose. No spiders were found at the store by officers." About the Brazilian wandering spider Lethal: Venom from a Brazilian Wandering can kill a human within two hours (Photo: Wiki Commons) The Brazilian wandering spider has been classed as the world's most venomous arachnid in Guinness World Records since 2010. Venom from the spider can kill a human being in just two hours, with victims suffering nausea, hypothermia and convulsions. It is fast-moving and aggressive, with a body up to 2in long, six small eyes and two large ones, and large red fangs it displays by raising its front two legs. In 2005, a British man spent a week in hospital after he was bitten by one of the spiders that had travelled to the country in a shipment of bananas. It is found in South and Central America and its Greek name, Phoneutria, translates as "murderess". Rather than building a web to catch its prey, the spider hunts insects, small mammals and reptiles on the jungle floor.

Although an effective anti-venom exists, at least 10 people have been killed by the spider in Brazil and the true total is believed to be higher. Like us on Facebook Most Read Most Recent Most Read Most Recent

Question: The Brazilian Wandering variety is the most poisonous in the world …….what?
Answer: Spider