PREVIEW

Wildlife experts in Australia have encountered the largest male specimen of the world's most venomous spider.

With fangs that could pierce a human fingernail, the venomous arachnid has found a new home at the Australian Reptile Park where it will help save lives after a member of the public discovered it by chance.

The potentially lethal Sydney funnel-web spider, affectionately named "Hercules," was discovered on the Central Coast, approximately 80km north of Sydney. Initially, it was handed over to a local hospital, the Australian Reptile Park said in a statement.

Spider specialists from the nearby park retrieved it and quickly recognised it as the largest male specimen ever received from the public in Australia.

This spider measures 7.9cm (3.1 inches) from one foot to the other, surpassing the park's previous record-holder from 2018, a male funnel-web named "Colossus."

The largest funnel-web spider ever donated to the Australian Reptile Park was a female measuring 8cm from foot to foot – similar in size to a tarantula. It was discovered in 2021 and was given the name "Megaspider."

Sydney funnel-web spiders typically vary in length from 1 to 5cm, with females generally being larger than their male counterparts but less venomous. They are predominantly found in forested areas and suburban gardens, ranging from Sydney, Australia's most populous city, to the coastal city of Newcastle in the north and the Blue Mountains to the west.

"Hercules" will contribute to the reptile park's antivenom program. Safely captured spiders turned in by the public undergo "milking" to extract venom, which is crucial for producing life-saving antivenom.

"We're accustomed to receiving fairly large funnel-web spiders at the park, but getting a male funnel-web of this size is akin to winning the lottery," said Emma Teni, a spider keeper at the Australian Reptile Park.

"While female funnel-web spiders are venomous, males have been found to be more deadly. Having a male funnel-web of this size in our collection could result in an enormous venom output, making him incredibly valuable for the park's venom program."

Since the program's inception in 1981, there has not been a single fatality in Australia due to a funnel-web spider bite.

Recent rainy and humid weather along Australia's east coast has created ideal conditions for funnel-web spiders to thrive.