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2 unusual facts about Sydney funnel-web spider


Lethal dose

For instance, mouse tissue is approximately fifty times less responsive than human tissue to the venom of the Sydney funnel-web spider.

Sydney funnel-web spider

However, it remains, together with the northern tree funnel-web, the only Australian funnel-web spider known to have inflicted fatal bites to humans.


Omega-atracotoxin

Omega-atracotoxin is an insect-specific neurotoxin of Blue mountains funnel-web spiders whose phylogenetic specificity derives from its ability to antagonise insect, but not vertebrate, voltage-gated calcium channels.

Shelob

In a DVD commentary, Jackson says Shelob's appearance is mostly based on the New Zealand tunnel-web spider, which he hates.


see also