New Spider Book out

[Critterman03]

Spiders of Australia: An Indroduction to there Classification,Biology and Distribution by Dr. Trevor J. Hawkeswood www.pensoft.net/index.htm

 

[Bob]

Great things down under.....to bad we can't have any!!!

 

[Mendi]

You never know what the future will bring our way... :}

 

[heyjeyniceid]

what do you mean we cant have any? I may be mistaken, but I believe I saw Sydney Funnel Webs on a dealors list once.

Id really like to get my hands on one of those forrest Sydney funnel webs that grow twice as big.

 

[Bob]

I heard they can not ship inverts out of the country. I suppose rhino roaches, stick insects and spiders were probably here before the law changed.....just guessing.

 

[Wade]

Actually, I was surprised to learn that invertebrates can be legally exported out of Australia, but the exporter must prove that they are captive bred and have been for more than one generation (or something like that). Stick insects are scarace in the US not because of laws from the country of origin, but due to very stict USDA regulations that block the import of non-native plant feeding insects. Many of these insects were already being cultured here well before these regs were in place.

Since myglamorph spiders are long lived and slow growing, I don't think legal captive bred Australian spiders are available here yet, but hopfully soon. Steve Nunn (who posts here sometimes) is working on exporting captive bred Australian tarantulas.

Don't get your hopes up regarding Atrax and related species, however. According to Steve, it is illegal to ship or mail these spiders even within Australia, let alone out of the country. I assume this is a saftey precaution.

They do turn up occasionally in the trade, but generally these are smuggled. Apparently, there are some very simmilar spiders from Malaysia or Indonesia that come in once in a great while.

Wade

 

[Critterman03]

Thank You

Thank you Wade for your infroamtion, I have joined the Australian
Tarantula Forum,I have talk with Steve Nunn,but did not know he "post" here sometimes,but I am intersted in some infroamtion about the "Funnel-web" Venom/Anti-venom as well if there are other applactions,on that point he was not sure,but may check.
It is nice to be able to at least learn an recive pictures of the Tarantulas/Spiders there,even though as of yet to be able to inport anyspiders..well legally anyway

 

[Steve Nunn]

Re: Thank You

Some info on funnel-webs:

Atrax robustus
Atrax spp. (2 undescribed species)
Hadronyche adelaidensis
Hadronyche cerberea
Hadronyche eyrei
Hadronyche flindersi
Hadronyche formidabilis
Hadronyche infensa
Hadronyche meridiana
Hadronyche modesta
Hadronyche pulvinator
Hadronyche valida
Hadronyche venenata
Hadronyche versuta
Hadronyche spp. (at least 20 undescribed species)

Common Names:

Atrax robustus Sydney funnel web spider
Hadronyche formidabilis Northern tree funnel web spider
Hadronyche cerberea Southern tree funnel web spider
Hadronyche versuta Blue mountains funnel web spider

Distribution:

Restricted to south-eastern Australia.
Atrax is confined to south-eastern coastal Australia and
adjacent highlands. Atrax robustus, the Sydney funnel-web spider,
has a distribution centring on Sydney, extending north to the Hunter
River and south to the Shoalhaven River, and narrowing westwards as
far as Lithgow.

Hadronyche has a considerably wider distribution. Many species
distributions can be related to local topography.
Overall, the distribution of Hadronyche is correlated with
the coastal trend of the eastern highlands from Tasmania to
south east Queensland, where the western trend of the main
range into dryer inland regions approximates the northern
limits of the genus

Anti Venom:

The availability since 1981 of specific funnel-web spider
antivenom (CSL, Melbourne) has dramatically changed the pattern
of funnel-web spider bite envenomation sequelae. In all cases
where envenomation has occurred antivenom is the definitive and
preferred treatment. (DIEKMAN et al 1989, Fisher et al 1981,
Hartman & Sutherland 1984, Sutherland 1980, 1983, Sutherland et
al 1981)

Sutherland has defined the following as clinical indicators of
systemic envenomation by male A. robustus. The presence of any
of the following is an indication for antivenom:

a) Muscle fasciculation in the limb involved or remote from the
bite, usually first seen in tongue or lips when systemic
spread of venom has occurred.

b) Marked salivation or lachrymation.
c) Piloerection.
d) Significant tachycardia.
e) Hypertension in a previously normotensive patient.
f) Dyspnoea.
g) Disorientation, confusion, or a depressed level of
consciousness.

In most cases of bites by funnel-web spiders, no symptoms will
develop other than local pain of limited duration due to the
mechanical trauma of the bite. These patients do not require
antivenom.

Funnel-web spider antivenom is prepared by hyperimmunising
rabbits with male A. robustus venom, and is therefore a rabbit
immunoglobulin. The average quantity per ampoule is 100 mg of
purified rabbit IgG, which is enough to neutralise in vitro the
average venom yield from at least 4 adult male A. robustus.

Sutherland recommends prophylactic pretreatment with
antihistamine and a steroid, about 15 minutes prior to antivenom.
Pre-medication with adrenaline is not recommended. Subcutaneous
testing for allergy is not recommended. The antivenom should be
given intravenously, initially very slowly. The initial dose is
a minimum of 2 ampoules, or 4 ampoules for a severe case, and
repeated in 15 minutes if no improvement. As with all
antivenoms, everything should be prepared to treat anaphylaxis
should it occur; however, anaphylaxis has not been reported in
these cases and theoretically it is unlikely it could occur in
severe cases due to the neuroendocrine response. The dosage is
the same for children and adults. Serum sickness has not occurred
following therapy with funnel-web spider antivenom. In the
unlikely event of occurrence, steroid therapy may be worth
consideration.

Yes, the Sydney Funnel web (Atrax robustus)is very dangerous, but
only the Male is deadly. As apposed to Hadronyche infensa
(considered to be far more deadly than Atrax robustus) where both
Male and Female are venomous.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Bug collecter]

This book looks excellent does anybody know the ISBN so i can order it from waterstones?.

David