Dream come true for Australian funnel-web spider enthusiast after he discovers a new species | Spiders

Spider Enthusiast’s Passion Leads to Discovery of New Funnel-Web Species

For two decades, Kane Christensen has dedicated his life to studying some of the world’s most feared creatures: deadly funnel-web spiders. His work at a wildlife park north of Sydney has not only saved lives but also led to the discovery of two new spider species, one of which now bears his name.

Christensen began his journey in 2003 as a volunteer, milking venom from the fangs of Sydney funnel-web spiders. The venom is used to produce life-saving antivenom, a critical resource in Australia, where funnel-web bites can be fatal. “Funnel-webs are just the pinnacle for me,” Christensen says, his enthusiasm palpable.

Australian funnel-web spiders are a family of glossy, dark arachnids, with several species possessing venom potent enough to harm humans. The Sydney funnel-web, while not the most venomous, is responsible for the most recorded deaths, with at least 13 fatalities attributed to its bite.

Early in his career, Christensen noticed something unusual. Some of the spiders brought to the park—particularly those from the Newcastle region, about 100 kilometers north of Sydney—were significantly larger than typical Sydney funnel-webs. They also had distinct differences in their genital bulbs, a key feature for identifying spider species.

Intrigued, Christensen reached out to scientists at the Australian Museum. His hunch proved correct: the “big boys” from Newcastle were not Sydney funnel-webs (Atrax robustus) but an entirely new species. This week, that species was officially named Atrax christenseni in his honor.

The discovery didn’t stop there. Last week, the park announced the largest male funnel-web spider ever recorded, nicknamed “Hemsworth” after the famous Australian actor brothers. With a leg span of 9.2 centimeters, Hemsworth dwarfed the typical 1-to-5-centimeter males. Further analysis confirmed Hemsworth as a member of the newly identified Newcastle funnel-web species.

The process of identifying these spiders was no small feat. Years of DNA analysis and morphological studies, delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, revealed not just one but two new species. The second, named the southern Sydney funnel-web (Atrax montanus), had been mistakenly classified as part of the Sydney funnel-web species for decades.

“Even though they were almost identical morphologically, what was originally described under a different name is a distinct species,” explains Dr. Bruno Alves Buzatto of Flinders University, a co-author of the study.

The Newcastle funnel-web, in particular, stands out for its evolutionary history. It last shared a common ancestor with the Sydney funnel-web 17 million years ago, making it a unique branch in the spider family tree.

One of the most striking differences between the two species lies in their reproductive organs. Male funnel-webs use copulatory bulbs—small, syringe-like structures on their pedipalps—to transfer sperm to females. The Newcastle funnel-web’s copulatory bulb is so large that Christensen jokes it would “pierce straight through” a Sydney funnel-web female during mating.

Despite their fearsome reputation, funnel-webs play a vital role in their ecosystems. They are “old world” spiders, creating burrows with funnel-shaped webs that act as traps for unsuspecting prey. Their venom, particularly the delta-atracotoxins found in male Sydney funnel-webs, is highly toxic to primates, including humans.

The Newcastle funnel-web carries similar toxins, and its larger size suggests it could deliver more venom per bite. However, Dr. David Wilson, a venom expert at James Cook University, notes that the northern tree-dwelling funnel-web may be even more dangerous due to its potentially more toxic venom.

Fortunately, no deaths from funnel-web bites have been recorded in Australia since the introduction of antivenom in 1981. Experts believe the existing antivenom is effective against the newly discovered species as well.

For Christensen, the honor of having a spider named after him is still sinking in. “It absolutely floored me,” he says. “That was just an honor I can’t describe—I’m still trying to find the words for it.”

The discovery of Atrax christenseni and Atrax montanus brings the total number of known Australian funnel-web species to 38, a testament to the enduring mysteries of the natural world and the dedication of those who study it.