Bite!!

[abcat1993]

I've seen my fair share of funnel webs.

Agh, ew...

[adamanteus]

See, I thought funnel-webs were Australian.... That's why it's best to use latinised names, it avoids that regional confusion. I think what you're referring to is we what Brits would call a trap-door spider.

[Cazador]

Woah... nice pictures James! It's amazing how fast the necrosis set in!
Rick

[Gyre]

Not the funnel web spider specifically, but of that type. I've heard trap-door as well, basically, anything that makes that type of web.

I've never been biten by one, but my brother has, and warned me to steer clear of them.

[CrazyHedgehog]

this one is usually commonly known as the garden spider, often has really pretty markings on its back..and yes I thought they were harmless too until I got bit! usually, the smaller ones can't break the skin, then when they do, sometimes thats all they do, just like a little nip..
and then when you get bit by a big one...ouch, yes thats the same sought of effect I had..

[Gijs & Sabine]

What a nasty bite It looks really painfull.

I agree with you Adamanteus, the taxonomy of spiders is really confusing. The Amaurobious similis that has bitten you is a member of the family Agelenidae, in Holland we call them "trechterspinnen", translated in English that would mean funnel web. But the real funnel webs are absolutely not related to our "dutch trechterspinnen". The real funnel webs belong to the primitive spiders, Orthognatha family.
Did you all understand that I hardly can

[adamanteus]

Yes, I understand, but here's where it gets really confusing......
Amaurobious doesn't belong to the Agelenidae. It's Coelotes terrestris (which was formally classified as Amaurobious terrestris) that belongs to this group. The current Amaurobious (formally classified as Ciniflo) belongs to the Cribellatae.

[Gijs & Sabine]

Wow, I think that you know a lot more about spiders than I do

[adamanteus]

Didn't mean to sound "smart", but with British and European spiders I'm in my "comfort zone"!!

James.