Hadronyche modesta

Hadronyche modesta, the Victorian funnel-web spider, is a species of spider found in Victoria, Australia.

Victorian funnel-web spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Atracidae
Genus:	Hadronyche
Species:	H. modesta
Binomial name
Hadronyche modesta (Simon, 1891)[1]
Synonyms[1]
Atrax modesta Simon

Taxonomy

A member of the genus Hadronyche, the Victorian funnel-web spider was first described in 1891 by Simon in the genus Atrax, having been collected from the vicinity of Melbourne. The type specimen is located in Paris.^[2]

Description

A small species compared with other Australian funnel-web spiders, the Victorian funnel-web spider has a similar colouration to most other Australian funnel-web spiders, namely a shiny black carapace and black to dark brown legs and chelicerae, with a matte abdomen with a maroon tinge.^[2]

Distribution and habitat

The Victorian funnel-web spider is found in southeastern Australia from the vicinity of Melbourne east through the Dandenong Ranges and East Gippsland.^[2]

Venom

Although this species is related to the Sydney funnel-web spider, it has not been implicated in any fatalities or serious envenomations. It is only known to cause general symptoms, such as headaches and nausea.^[3]