What is the Difference Between Sydney Funnel-Web Spider and Brazilian Wandering Spider?

The Sydney funnel-web spider and the Brazilian wandering spider are two distinct species of venomous spiders with some key differences:

Appearance: Sydney funnel-web spiders are black with hairy smooth bodies, while Brazilian wandering spiders are brown in color with red hairs on their bodies.
Size: Brazilian wandering spiders are generally larger than Sydney funnel-web spiders. The average leg length of the Sydney funnel-web spider is six to seven centimeters.
Habitat: Sydney funnel-web spiders are found in New South Wales, Australia, and are mostly terrestrial spiders, favoring habitats with moist sand and clays. They typically build silk-lined tubular burrow retreats with collapsed "tunnels" or open "funnel" entrances. Brazilian wandering spiders, on the other hand, are mainly found in tropical South America.
Venom: Both spiders have potent venom, but the Brazilian wandering spider is considered to have the most toxic venom. However, an effective antivenom is available for Brazilian wandering spider bites, and few fatalities occur. Sydney funnel-web spider bites can cause serious injury or death in humans.
Speed and Reach: The Brazilian wandering spider is likely faster and has a better reach than the Sydney funnel-web spider.

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Comparative Table: Sydney Funnel-Web Spider vs Brazilian Wandering Spider

Here is a table comparing the differences between the Sydney Funnel-Web Spider and the Brazilian Wandering Spider:

Feature	Sydney Funnel-Web Spider	Brazilian Wandering Spider
Size	Larger, with a body length ranging from 1 to 5 cm	Smaller, measuring one to three inches
Color	Black with hairy smooth bodies	Brown with red hairs on their body
Habitat	Found in New South Wales, Australia, in moist sand and clay areas	Found in Central and South America
Web	Builds funnel webs to live in	Does not build funnel webs
Venom	Contains atraxotoxin as the main toxin	Contains Phoneutria nigriventer toxin-3 (PhTx3) as the main toxin
Aggression	Not as aggressive as Brazilian wandering spiders	More aggressive than Sydney funnel-web spiders
Bite	Always delivers bites with venom	Occasionally delivers dry bites without venom
Location	Mostly found in silk-lined tubular burrows	Found in various habitats, including trees and human-made structures

Please note that both spiders are highly venomous and capable of causing serious injury or death, so it is advised to avoid contact with either species if encountered.

Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.