APPEARANCE: A relatively large, stubby-looking spider with hairy legs and body. The abdomen is usually dark plum to black and not patterned. It is one of the largest Australian spiders and measures about 15-25 mm (male) to 35-45 mm (female).

HABITAT: They are found mostly in Eastern Australia, particularly New South Wales. They make burrows in gardens and woods. When the ground is wet, they may get indoors and hide in shoes and socks.

BEHAVIOR: When disturbed this spider rears up with beads of venom glistening out the tips of its fangs. The rearing-up is necessary since their 7mm fangs only strike downwards.

VENOM: It is considered the most venomous spider of Australia. The male Sydney Funnel-web spider is more venomous than the female - its venom attacks the human nervous system. Initial symptoms after a bite include local pain, mouth numbness, vomiting, abdominal pain, sweating and salivation. Antivenom is available and no deaths have occurred since its introduction.

REPRODUCTION: These spiders are believed to live for 8 or more years. Male spiders take several (2-4) years to mature. Once mature, they lead a homeless existence in search of a female to mate with. They mate only once in their lifetime and are typically killed shortly after mating. The female lays over 100 eggs in a pillow-shaped silk egg sac. They hatch in about 3 weeks. The spiderlings leave their mother's burrow after a couple of months.

APPEARANCE: It is a close relative of the Black Widow Spider of the US. The female - the more dangerous of the species - grows to about 10 mm long and is all black with a red stripe on top of the body. The male grows to about 4 mm long and has a white abdomen with 4 black stripes running down the side of the body and red markings on the body.

HABITAT: They are commonly found throughout mainland Australia and Tasmania with the exception of extremely cold or hot regions. It weaves its web in dry, sheltered areas such as among rocks, in logs, shrubs, junk-piles and toilets.

BEHAVIOR: They bite very frequently, particularly over the summer months. Only the female bite is dangerous, though. However, they rarely leave their webs. Besides, they have relatively smaller jaws.

VENOM: The venom of the female impacts the nervous system of humans. Symptoms after a bite include local pain, sweating, muscular weakness, nausea and vomiting. Antivenom is available and no deaths have occurred since its introduction.

REPRODUCTION: Male Redback Spiders do not weave a web. But, they reside along the fringes of a female's web. The female often mistakes the male to be prey. The mating occurs while the female squirts digestive juices onto the male's abdomen. Males do not survive the mating process. The female lays several batches of eggs over a 2-year period after mating. She produces upto 10 round egg sacs, each of which contains about 250 eggs. The spiderlings disperse after hatching. Females live for 2-3 years, whereas males only live for about 6-7 months.

APPEARANCE: This spider has black to dark brown carapace and legs. The abdomen is charcoal grey with a dorsal pattern of white markings. The female grows to about 18 mm and the male grows to about half that length.

HABITAT: They are found widely throughout southern and eastern Australia (commonly found in urban areas). They are mostly found on tree trunks, logs, rock walls and building crevices. They form webs with funnel-like entrances that are untidy, lacy silk sheets.

BEHAVIOR: They are mostly timid creatures and don't bite often. They live for about 2 years.

VENOM: The bite of the Black House Spider can be quite painful and cause local swelling. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sweating and giddiness. In a few cases skin lesions have developed after multiple bites.

REPRODUCTION: The female Black-house spider never leaves her web unless forced to. Males ready to mate go in search of females in their webs. After mating, the female constructs several white silk egg sacs. The female stays with the eggs until they hatch. The spiderlings disperse on hatching.