Brazilian wandering spider

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

iBrazilian wandering spiders

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Family:	Ctenidae
Genus:	Phoneutria Perty, 1833

Species

P. bahiensis
P. boliviensis
P. fera
P. nigriventer
P. reidyi

The Brazilian wandering spider (Phoneutria spp.) is regarded by some as the most dangerous spider in the world. It is highly venomous and kills some 5 people across the world annually. ^{[citation needed]} It is named as such because it was first discovered in Brazil, though this genus is known to exist elsewhere in South and Central America. This spider is a member of the Ctenidae family of wandering spiders.

Phoneutria spp. is actually a genus with five known similar species whose members are highly venomous and not reluctant to attack people who appear threatening. However, recent studies possibly indicate (but not with any irrefutable proof) that these spiders only inject venom in approximately one-third of their bites and may only inject a small amount in another third. The problem with this theory are the inaccuracies involved with absolute definitive identification of a particular subspecies. Thus the effects of the bites from these spiders are hard to determine when based on sketchy information or inaccurate identification of a subspecies.

However, the effects are reported to range from only a couple of painful pinpricks to a full-blown envenomation. In either case, one must assume that when bitten by a Phoneutria or any Ctenid that it is possibly life threatening and must seek out immediate emergency treatment. The Phoneutria fera and nigriventer are the two most commonly implicated as the most virulent of the Phoneutria spiders. The Phoneutria not only has a potent neurotoxin, but is reported to have one of the most excruciatingly painful envenomations of all spiders due to its high concentration of serotonin.

The Sydney funnel-web spider apparently injects venom in every bite and therefore in effect could be more dangerous — though either spider's venom can lead to a medical emergency. (For a comparison of the amounts and toxicities of problematical spider venoms, see Spiders having medically significant venom.) It should also be mentioned that due to the difficulty associated with identifying the offending spider, there are possibly many species of spiders that are potentially harmful but are not documented. For example, the common Wolf spider in the United States is considered largely harmless but there have been scattered reports of either adverse or allergic reactions to the bite of various species of the lycosid family (wolf spiders). A general rule of thumb is to give any medium to large spider plenty of room and respect.

Of the five species known, P. nigriventer and P. fera seem to be the ones to receive mention most frequently in mass-media publications. P.nigriventer species are responsible for most cases of venom intoxication in Brazil because this specie is commonly found in highly populated areas of Brazil, namely the South-eastern states: São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. The P. fera is native to the northern portion of South America, especially the Brazilian Amazônia, Venezuela and French Guiana.

The Brazilian wandering spider is reputed to occasionally hide in clusters of bananas. As a result, any large spider appearing in a bunch of bananas should be treated with due care.

This spider is called the wandering spider because it wanders the jungle floor, rather than residing in a lair or maintaining a web. This attribute is another reason it is considered so dangerous. In densely populated areas, Phoneutria species usually search for cover and dark places to hide during daytime, and this may occur inside houses, clothes, cars, boots, boxes and log piles; thus generating accidents when near people.

Despite its reputation as the world's deadliest spider, one study suggested that only 2.3% of bites (mainly in children) were serious enough to require antivenom.<ref>Bucaretchi F, Deus Reinaldo C, Hyslop S, Madureira P, De Capitani E, Vieira R. "A clinico-epidemiological study of bites by spiders of the genus Phoneutria". Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 42 (1): 17-21. PMID 10742722.</ref>

1 Interesting Fact
2 In fiction
3 Species
4 Footnotes
5 External links

[edit] Interesting Fact

The spider is called Brazilian because it was discovered and documented in Amazonia. The antidote for their poison was developed by Carlos Chagas, in Brazil. Diet spiderlings eat flightless fruit flies, and pinhead crickets and adults eat crickets, other large insects, small lizards, and pinkie mice. This spider is sometimes called the "Banana Spider" because it is often on bananas shipped to the U.S. The Brazilian wandering spider can grow up to 4-5 inches. Spiderlings can live in a clear plastic deli container with air holes and adults can live in a 5 to 10-gallon tank.

[edit] In fiction

The Fear from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater used the venom from the aforementioned spider to cover his crossbow bolts with it to fire at the player. (Additionally, it is not confirmed if it's the most potent poison in the game itself.)

Synthetic Brazilian Wandering Spider venom was also used as a murder weapon in an episode of CSI: NY.