Animal Species:Sydney Funnel-web Spider, Atrax robustus Probably
the most notorious of all spiders, Sydney Funnel-webs have a
fearsome reputation. Most of this is deserved, but some is
exaggerated. Sydney Funnelweb Spider, Funnel Web Spider Sydney
Funnel-webs are shiny, dark brown to black spiders with finger-
like spinnerets (silk-spinning organs) at the end of their
abdomen. Males have a large mating spur projecting from the
middle of their second pair of legs. If threatened, Sydney
Funnel-webs show aggressive behaviour, rearing and displaying
their impressive fangs. 1.5 cm - 3.5 cm The Sydney Funnel-web
Spider (Atrax robustus) occurs in New South Wales, from
Newcastle to Nowra and west to Lithgow. They especially favour
the forested upland areas surrounding the lower, more open
country of the central Cumberland Basin. This includes the
Hornsby Plateau to the north, the foothills of the Blue
Mountains to the west, and the Woronora Plateau to the south.
Funnel-web occurrence is low in much of central-western