A spider named after a mythological hero recently set a record in Australia for his impressive bulk
Australian Reptile Park/Instagram
According to theAssociated Press, funnel-web spiders are some of the most venomous spiders on the planet. ARP’s antivenom program collects funnel-web spiders from people who have captured the arachnids in the wild. Experts then milk the collected spiders for their venom so the material can be used to produce life-saving antivenom for humans.
Perthe ARP’s website, since the park’s funnel-web spider antivenom program began in 1981, zero deaths have been reported due to funnel-web spiders.
Hercules, named for his size, measures 7.9 centimeters (or 3.1 inches). Per ARP’s social media statement, female funnel-web spiders are usually larger than males, but Hercules is as big as the largest female spider of the same species handed into the park’s funnel-web antivenom program.
“When I first saw Hercules, I thought for sure he had to be a female because he was so big,” said Emma Teni, a spider keeper at ARP, in a video that accompanied the park’s Facebook post. “But upon closer inspection, he is definitely a male and has some of the biggest fangs I have ever seen.”
The AP reported that Hercules was found on the Central Coast (about 50 miles north of Sydney) and brought to John Hunter Hospital, which serves as a spider drop-off location for ARP’s antivenom program. Spider experts from the park collected the spider from the hospital and quickly realized the arachnid was the biggest male they’d handled.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Colossus, the male funnel-web spider, was the last arachnid to hold the record for ARP’s largest male in the antivenom program. The spider joined the program in 2018. The program is home to over 2000 funnel-web spiders, ranging from babies to fully grown adults.
source: people.com
