VENOM TOXICITY - known to cause severe illness, especially to young children - similar to Red-Back Spider. Although normally not aggressive, the male mouse spider will bite if provoked, and should be considered dangerous to humans. It has large hard fangs which can cause a deep painful bite. First aid and medical attention (ambulance) should be sought as soon as possible.
Area of distribution - Australia-wide.
Spider Identification - a medium to large spider of up to 35 mm in body length. The male Mouse Spider often has a bright red head and elongated fangs.
The Mouse Spider is often mistaken for the Funnel-Web Spider. The main differences being the Funnel-Web has much longer spinnerets (the 2 appendages on the end of the abdomen) and the male funnel-web has a spur on it's second leg - as illustrated above.
Habitat - Mouse spiders are ground dwellers with burrows of more than 1 metre deep. The male often wanders about during the day on open ground, especially after rain, in search of females.
CLICK HERE - FIRST AID - Mouse Spider Bite |
