The banana spider is the most poisonous in the world. Where does the Brazilian wandering spider live Phoneutria Where does the Brazilian spider live

For a long time the palm among dangerous poisonous spiders held " black Widow" But she had to share the championship with the dangerous Brazilian wandering spider. Soldier spider, runner spider, banana spider - these are the names of the formidable arthropod killer all over the world.

Noted in the Guinness Book of Records for its toxicity. Eighty-five percent of bites are fatal. Fortunately, this species is distributed in a limited area.

Brazilian wandering spider

There are two types:

jumping - moving with sharp jumps;
running.

Appearance and habitat

Arthropods do not weave webs. It got its name because constant movements. As a result, its color changes. Most often it has a sand color, reddish-brown, brownish-brown.

The cephalothorax is relatively small in size. The abdomen is large. Long, thick and hairy limbs.

It reaches up to 15 centimeters in size, which is equal to the palm of an adult.

Central and South America, its tropical forest part, are the most suitable for habitat. Often watching a spider soldier in houses. Climbs into closets, hides in shoe boxes or clothing bags. Crawls into things scattered on the floor and secluded places indoors (closets, basements, utility rooms, garages).

Almost all the time he wanders, moving from one place to another. Loves the dark time of day. During this period he feels better. At night it actively hunts. During the day, it tries to stay in the shade, hides under logs, crawls under stones, and looks for secluded places where the direct, scorching rays of the sun do not penetrate.

Reproduction and nutrition

Spiders are dioecious. To attract the attention of the female, the male performs a certain dance. Female color a little brighter than that of the male. The male is much larger than the female and has an extra pair of limbs, which he uses during copulation.

The banana spider got its name because of its addiction to bananas. They are often found in packages containing this fruit.

The diet consists of:

insects;
small individuals of their own species;
lizards;
frogs;
small rodents;
affects small birds that accidentally fly into the area of its accessibility.

Deadly poison

Due to its external unattractiveness and love of playing hide and seek, encounters with this arthropod are always unexpected and end sadly for the finder. In a person's home comes in search of peace and quiet. An unexpectedly discovered spider leaves no choice. The state of the soldier spider is always aimed at hunting. The spider is aggressive, but attacks a victim larger than itself only when danger approaches. He instantly takes a fighting stance, raising his front paws towards the victim. Runs quite fast for a spider and can also jump a fair distance.

Its powerful poison causes paralysis of the respiratory muscles, resulting in suffocation and death. From the moment of the bite to death, it takes from 2 to 6 hours.

A person who has been bitten must immediately be shown to a doctor.

First symptoms:

painful bite;
dizziness;
heaviness in breathing;
increased blood pressure;
nausea.

One of the victims of a Brazilian spider bite shared his impressions.

In 1998, a 23-year-old guy was sorting boxes of bananas. A Brazilian spider was hiding in one of them. Disturbed, he bit into his hand young man. As the guy describes his condition: “Bite looks like a pierced thorn, very deep. I immediately felt dizzy, my chest felt so tight that it was difficult to breathe. The pressure rose so much that the heart beat was beating in the chest.” He was not at a loss and immediately asked for help. A life was saved. He was discharged from the hospital the very next day.

In modern medicine there is an antidote to the poison of this killer; it is also toxic and causes certain consequences for the body. For an adult, strong person, the bite causes severe allergic reaction. Very scary for children, sick or elderly people.

For Russian residents, there is no danger of encountering the Brazilian monster; the climate saves them. But nowadays many Russians love to travel. Exotic places and tropical latitudes beckon. And they can meet him by visiting Brazil and South America. When arriving in such areas, you should always think about safety. Remember, the Brazilian spider loves to live in houses. You need to be especially careful when checking items and boxes in wardrobes. When meeting, do not make sudden movements or pick them up. Try to take it out of the room and check the wardrobe again for the presence of other Brazilian soldier spiders.

When going to travel to any country, study what insects you will encounter. Make up your own medicine card, what medications you can and cannot take. Consult your doctor regarding your health. Most unpleasant moments come from our ignorance of our body. Southern countries- this is a certain risk.

Scientists still found the benefits of poison for humans. Based on it, drugs are being developed to help to our stronger half purchase male strength. The venom of this spider may be included in the Guinness Book of Records for the creation of drugs to enhance potency.

For residents of Ukraine, Russia and neighboring countries, local spiders do not pose any particular danger, since even poisonous individuals cannot kill a person. However, there are more terrifying species in the world, a representative of which is the Brazilian wandering spider, which will be discussed further.

Appearance, color and size

The Brazilian wandering spider is a relatively large arthropod, whose body length often exceeds 10 cm. The head and chest are small, but the belly is thick, which is explained by the constant consumption of food. The massive legs are covered with hairs, which greatly gives the spider its terrifying appearance. appearance.

The color of the arthropod varies depending on the specific living conditions. Most often it is dark brown with light patches on the legs and back, but it can have a brown color with reddish hues or even black.

It is also easy to recognize a spider by its behavior: in a moment of danger, the arthropod stands on its hind legs, raising its forelimbs upward. For this feature he was nicknamed "soldier". During such a “ritual,” the spider can sway from side to side, and its jaw becomes crimson-red.

Did you know? The spider's web is so unique that it has not yet been possible to reproduce it in the laboratory. In addition, it is very light, therefore, according to preliminary calculations, for coverage Globe only 340 g of such “yarn” would be needed.

Where does it live?

The main habitats of the “Brazilian wanderer” are the territories of Central and South America, where arthropods settle mainly in tropical forests. Sometimes they can be found in private houses, where they climb in search of food or shelter.
Spiders crawl into shoe boxes, bags of clothes, and even things scattered on the floor, which only increases the danger to humans. During the day, they can hide in cool basements or dark closets, and at night they actively move around the house.

This behavior is also typical in forest conditions: during the day the spider sits out under stones or in cool holes, and at nightfall it quickly moves around the territory, for which it is also called a “runner”.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus, the “Brazilian wanderer” can only be found in terrariums, but has not yet been recorded in open nature. True, this does not mean that there is nothing to be afraid of: there are many poisonous varieties that are common in our country (for example, the “black widow”).

What does it eat?

The diet of the Brazilian spider is quite wide and includes:

small insects;
small lizards;
other spiders, and even weaker representatives of their own species;
sick birds, even if they are larger than him.

When attacking its prey, this small predator sinks its teeth into it and injects poison into the body, paralyzing the animal in a few seconds. This allows him to start eating calmly.

In the absence of such food, he does not disdain some fruits, especially bananas. Because of its love for them, the arthropod received the name “Brazilian banana spider.”

Important! In banana boxes they travel very long distances. There are cases when a spider ended up on another continent, endangering the local population.

Reproduction

Brazilian wandering spiders are dioecious creatures. The color of the female is much brighter than the color of the male, but the size of the male individual exceeds the size of the female, and the males also have an additional pair of limbs (used during mating).

To attract the attention of his chosen one, the male performs a kind of dance, while simultaneously offering her the caught food.

After sexual intercourse, the female often eats her partner, and after a few weeks she lays eggs and guards them until the young emerge. After this, the female’s maternal mission is completed: the young individuals crawl along the paths in search of food.

Why is a spider bite dangerous?

The Brazilian wandering spider was included in the Guinness Book of Records as one of the most poisonous creatures of its order. This attitude of people is explained by his aggressive behavior and powerful neurotoxins that are part of the poison.

In a healthy adult, they cause a strong allergic reaction, but with timely consultation with a doctor, death can be avoided. The “wanderer” poses a great danger to children and people with weakened immune systems, among whom the percentage of deaths is much higher.

During a bite, a person feels sharp pain, difficulty breathing and swelling of individual parts of the body. Over time, complete paralysis of the respiratory muscles occurs and the victim suffocates. Depending on the condition of the body, death occurs within 2-6 hours after the bite.

How is poison used in medicine?

The venom of various animals has always been the subject of study by scientists, because this is the only way to develop an antidote and save a large number of of people. However, the poison of the “Brazilian wanderer” is interesting not only for this.

Did you know? The most prominent representative big spiders considered a goliath tarantula. With a body size of up to 10 cm, the span of its limbs reaches 30 cm.

It contains the toxin TX2-6, which helps increase erection in males. And although there is no cure for erectile dysfunction using it yet, developments in this direction are still underway. It is likely that the world will soon learn about a new cure for impotence.

As you can see, a wandering spider - interesting object for detailed study, but if you have to meet him in wild conditions- it is better to bypass the predator without exposing yourself to danger.

Brazilian wandering spider - also known as soldier, runner, wandering spider, . Belongs to the runner family Ctenidae. Reads 8 types. Natural habitat covers South and Central America. As pet found throughout the world. In 2010, it was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most poisonous.

Description of appearance

The Brazilian wandering spider grows to a size of 15 cm, which is equal to the size of an adult's hand. Ranked with. The color is varied - gray, brown, black, red, brown. The body is divided into the abdomen and cephalothorax, connected by a thin bridge. Long powerful 8 pieces. Well visible mandibles. The photo is located below.

The entire body is covered with small, dense hairs. Legs serve as instruments of movement and are organs of smell and touch. On the head, providing a broad outlook.

On a note!
The wandering spider sees in different directions, But good eyesight is not different. Perceives silhouettes, shadows, and responds well to movement.

Lifestyle

The Brazilian runner spider got its name because of its vital functions and certain qualities. The animal moves quickly and jumps well. Lives in trees, most of them bananas. The bur does not stand; it constantly moves from one place to another in search of food.

On a note!
The Brazilian spider forms powerful trapping webs. The diameter of the largest reaches 2 m. The threads are so strong that they freely hold birds, lizards, snakes, and small rodents. Fishermen put them in several layers and use them to catch fish.

The Brazilian wandering spider often crawls into residential buildings in search of food. Hides in cabinets with dishes, things, shoes, in the corners of rooms. Since in such conditions it does not spin a web, it does not reveal its presence in any way.

Nutrition

The main diet is insects, snails, small caterpillars. Often the victims are small birds, rodents, lizards, and snakes. The soldier spider lies in wait for its victim in a shelter. When she sees her, she takes a characteristic pose - she rises on her hind limbs, lifts her front limbs up, pulls her middle ones forward, and spreads them to the side. He waits for the right moment and rushes to attack.

Interesting!
The runner spider injects venom and saliva. The first substance paralyzes the victim, the second turns the insides into a liquid mass, which the predator then drinks. Insects die almost immediately, frogs, rodents, snakes after 15 minutes. The Brazilian soldier spider hunts at night and hides away from sunlight under stones, in crevices, tree leaves.

Reproduction

Runners lead a solitary lifestyle and gather in pairs at the time of mating. The male appeases the female with food. Such manipulation is necessary so that the spider does not simply eat it. After fertilization, the “suitor” must immediately hide, since the hungry female may begin her hunt.

After some time, the wandering spider lays eggs in a cocoon formed from a web or on bananas. The cubs are born after 20 days, crawl into different sides. Up to a hundred small spiders are born at one time. An adult lives on average 3 years.

Danger to humans

The British wandering spider is one of its huge family. Toxic substance disrupts work nervous system, causes spasms. Possible consequences bite:

abdominal pain;
nausea;
weakness;
vomit;
diarrhea;
dizziness;
temperature change;
arrhythmia;
headache;
increased blood pressure;
difficulty breathing, shortness of breath.

Redness, swelling, pain, and burning appear at the site.

The situation is especially dangerous for young children, people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and people with allergies. The venom of the Brazilian wandering spider can kill a child in 15 minutes and an adult in half an hour. Alarming symptoms develop within 20 minutes after a predator attack. However, with the provision of qualified assistance, the condition returns to normal. Call ambulance should be taken immediately if breathing difficulties occur.

Poison in high concentration leads to muscle failure, heart function is disrupted, and breathing becomes difficult. Death occurs as a result of suffocation. There is an effective antidote - Phoneutria. When it is administered, nothing threatens a person’s life.

Benefits of the Brazilian wandering spider

The animal is kept as a pet all over the world. Attracts an unusual appearance, large size. In artificially created conditions, the runner lives up to 3 years, reproduces, and feeds on insects.

The poison contains a powerful neurotoxin PhTx3, which is used in medicine in strictly dosed concentrations. The substance has a beneficial effect on male potency. Effective medicines are made from the poison.

In this topic I would like to talk about a spider that has nothing to do with tarantulas, but it is very interesting. Phoneutria fera is one of the most poisonous spiders on the planet, so I decided to post about it on my blog.

Wandering soldier spiders are one of the most poisonous spiders on Earth.

Correctly called: “Brazilian soldier spiders”, or “Brazilian wandering spiders”. In books and publications we often come across the “banana spider,” a name that denotes many different spiders of the genus Nephila (N. clavipes) and Phoneutria, to which the Brazilian soldier spiders belong. Representatives of the genus Phoneutria are the most poisonous spiders. Favorite place their habitats are banana plantations Latin America, so they have another name that the people gave them: “banana spider”.
The genus of spiders Phoneutria Perty is widespread on the American continent. Habitats of species of this genus:

· Phoneutria bahiensis – eastern Brazil, forests on the coast;

· Phoneutria boliviensis – South and Central America;

· Phoneutria eickstedtae – Brazil;

· Phoneutria fera - Suriname, Peru, Ecuador, Guyana, Brazil;

· Phoneutria keyserlingi – forests of the eastern coast of Brazil;

· Phoneutria nigriventer – northern Argentina, eastern Brazil, Uruguay;

Phoneutria pertyi – East Coast Brazil;

· Phoneutria reidyi – Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Guyana.

Spiders were also called “wandering” because of their dietary preferences, which affected their lifestyle. Soldier spiders do not weave webs. These fast creatures are very active. They constantly move and do not stay in one place for long. They do not use or weave webs. They spend their days searching for food. The most poisonous spider, oddly enough, loves to feast on bananas. Therefore, there are many of them on banana plantations in tropical America.
In search of food, the banana spider often ends up in residential buildings, turning into a formidable source mortal danger. The poisonous spider, the photo of which you see, meets people not only in wildlife. Quite often they end up in people's homes straight from a bunch of bananas from the store. He can be found anywhere in the house. They find temporary shelter in folds of clothing, boxes of fruit, and inside furniture.
Although bananas are a delicacy for the most poisonous spiders, soldier spiders are still predators. Their main diet is insects and other types of spiders. The size of the spider is small, with elongated legs they reach about ten centimeters. But despite its modest size, the most poisonous spider is an excellent hunter. It attacks small reptiles: lizards, snakes, frogs. It can even attack small birds that are much larger than it.
Therefore, we can say that soldier spiders are aggressive and very dangerous creatures for humans. Death from a spider bite occurs after 2-6 hours. Although the banana spider is one of the most poisonous spiders on Earth, deaths from their bites are fortunately not the rule.
The fact is that the toxicity of its poison is inferior to that of, for example, poisonous snakes. And its effect greatly depends on the body weight of the victim. The greater the mass, the weaker the effect. Spiders of the species Phoneutria fera can release a fairly significant dose of poison into the human body. But this does not always lead to death.
The poison is produced by special glands located at the tips of the chelicerae. Getting under the skin, it causes a severe allergic reaction. If a person is healthy and adult, then usually the bite of the most poisonous spider does not lead to death. But when a child or a sick person with a weakened immune system is bitten, death can occur quickly if medical assistance is not provided.
The most powerful neurotoxins contained in the venom and extremely aggressive, fearless behavior have given the banana spider the reputation of not only “the most poisonous spider,” but also “the most dangerous” to humans.
A spider bite is very painful. The poison causes symptoms of severe intoxication, then, after a certain period of time, the respiratory muscles are paralyzed. A few hours after the bite the person dies.
But, if medical assistance is immediately provided, then fatal outcome can be avoided. This is how the lucky ones who received such help in time describe the bite of the most poisonous spider. Doctors administered an antidote to them, which saved their lives. The bite is compared to the prick of a sharp thorn that penetrates very deeply. Dizziness sets in. There is a strong pressure in the chest, making it difficult to breathe normally. Pressure in blood vessels increases sharply circulatory system. You can feel your heart beating strongly.
But in Latin American countries, tragedies still happen today. An incident that occurred in Brazil: children were playing and climbed into the attic of their house, where they saw a spider. But they were not afraid, but decided to play with him. The soldier spider bit the girl. Her brother rushed to her aid. He wanted to throw it aside, but he was also bitten by the most poisonous spider. The children's parents immediately called an ambulance, which arrived half an hour later. But for the girl this time turned out to be fatal. Only thirty minutes, but she could not be saved.
The behavior of the most poisonous spider is aggressive, but at the same time it does not attack large animals or humans. Bites occur more often due to the fact that a person simply does not notice the spider, which is hiding in a shelter. Or, out of ignorance that the spider is poisonous, they are caught and picked up.
It is well known that snake venoms are used in medicine. They make effective medicines. The banana spider has venom that has interesting properties. According to the testimony of men who suffered from the bite of the most poisonous spider, during the action of the poison they felt a strong, painful erection (priapism). And after recovery, they claimed that the quality of their sex life had improved greatly.
This gave scientists a reason to begin researching the venom of soldier spiders. Research is underway suggesting that the spider toxin Tx2-6, which causes this reaction in the body, can be used to create medical supplies to stimulate erection.

Brazilian wandering spiders are the most venomous spiders on the planet. They belong to the genus Phoneutria, which consists of several species of spiders. Several of these species, including Phoneutria nigriventer, Phoneutria keyserlingi and Phoneutria fera are called Brazilian wandering spiders.

The term "Brazilian wandering spider" actually refers not only to one spider, but to a number of extremely poisonous species spiders found mainly in South (especially Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Suriname, Peru and Guyana) and Central America. They belong to the genus Phoneutria, which is a member of the venomous spider family Ctenidae.

The Brazilian wandering spider is a very poisonous and aggressive spider. It is also known as the "banana" spider (because these spiders are often found in bunches of bananas). The Brazilian wandering spider "wanders" on the ground in the jungle, rather than living in a burrow or building a web.

Species of Brazilian wandering spiders

According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the genus of venomous spiders Ctenidae contains the following types Brazilian wandering spiders: Phoneutria fera, Phoneutria nigriventer, Phoneutria bahiensis, Phoneutria boliviensis, Phoneutria eickstedtae, Phoneutria keyserlingi, Phoneutria pertyi and Phoneutria reidyi.

All types of Brazilian wandering spiders mainly Brown, hairy and have black spot on the stomach. These spiders reach large sizes, with a leg span of about 15 cm and a body size of up to 5 cm.

These spiders are nocturnal hunters, so they spend most of the day hiding in crevices or under logs and come out at night to hunt. They feed on insects, small reptiles, amphibians, mice and other smaller spiders.

Brazilian wandering spider - bite and its consequences.

A Brazilian wandering spider bite can cause full-blown poisoning or be limited to a few painful punctures in the skin. The two most famous and dangerous species wandering spiders are Phoneutria fera and Phoneutria nigriventer.

Brazilian wandering spiders are known for their aggressiveness, as well as their highly venomous bite. However, it is interesting that this behavior is actually a defense mechanism.

When threatened or attacked, they raise their first two pairs of legs, signaling to their predators that they are ready to attack. Their biting is thus an act of self-defense, and they only do so when provoked, either accidentally or intentionally.

If you find yourself in a situation where you are bitten by one of these spiders, you may experience symptoms such as sweating, goosebumps, and severe burning pain at the site of the bite.

Within 30 minutes or so, an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) occurs, blood pressure increases, abdominal cramps occur, body temperature drops below normal, nausea, dizziness, blurred vision and seizures begin.

If you are bitten by a wandering spider, you should seek medical attention immediately. medical care to the appropriate facility, regardless of whether there are initial symptoms. This is very important as the poison can threaten your life.

The venom of these spiders is a complex cocktail of toxins, peptides and proteins that affects ion channels and chemical receptors in the neuromuscular system of the victims.

It so happens that the poison that is Brazilian spider Phoneutria nigriventer injects into its prey, contains several toxic polypeptide fractions. Some of them have been purified and shown to contain the very potent neurotoxin PhTx-3 and six neurotoxic peptides (Tx3-1-Tx3-6).

The experiment showed that PhTx3 and one of the named peptides, TX3-3, act as calcium channel blockers, reducing its amount. A decrease in the amount of calcium affects the entry of glutamate3 and acetylcholine2 into the rat brain.

Speaking in simple words, the venom of Brazilian wandering spiders affects brain function and disorients the victim.

Phoneutria is very interesting spiders, but to keep them in captivity, it is necessary great experience in keeping very fast and aggressive spiders. If not, then it is better to stay away from this species because of their dangerous poison. They are easy to keep and unpretentious in food, but require reasonable and respectful treatment.