On the east coast of Australia, scientists have discovered a new subspecies of extremely dangerous spiders.
In a joint statement from the National Museum of Sydney and the University of Newcastle, the results of years of research on these arthropods were presented.
The new subspecies is a close relative of the dreaded Sydney spider, but surpasses this species in both size and venom toxicity. The habitat of the new spiders is concentrated in Newcastle and adjacent territories, while their smaller relatives live in the Sydney area and its suburbs.
Jeff Isbister, head of clinical toxicology at the University of Newcastle, said the first encounters with large specimens were reported about two decades ago. Scientists point out that these spiders have always lived in the region, but specific differences have only now been identified. An important aspect of the discovery is the confirmation of the effectiveness of the existing antidote in case of the bite of the new subspecies. For its classification, the researchers performed an extensive genetic analysis, comparing current samples with specimens from the early 20th century.
The impetus for this study, which led to the discovery of the new subspecies Atrax christenseni, was the appearance in the laboratory of the Sydney Reptile Park of an unusual specimen with impressive dimensions and extremely aggressive behavior. Kain Christensen, an employee of the laboratory, noted the unusual size of the spider and a number of unique morphological features, which allowed its classification as a separate subspecies.
At the beginning of 2025, the collection of the reptile park in Sydney was enriched with a record specimen of the new subspecies – a spider with a body length of 9.2 centimeters, named in honor of the Australian actor Chris Hemsworth.
The Sydney spider, also known as Atrax robustus, is part of the large family of spiders. Its distribution territory includes Sydney and surrounding areas within a radius of 160 kilometers. Until the development of the antidote in 1981, the bites of these aggressive spiders caused the death of 13 people. After the appearance of the antidote, obtained from their venom, no more deaths were recorded.
