Australia's Reptile Park Names Record Funnel-Web Spider

The Australian Reptile Park has welcomed a record-breaking male funnel-web spider named 'Hemsworth', measuring an impressive 9.2 centimeters, surpassing previous record-holders Hercules and Colossus. Named after the famous Hemsworth brothers, the spider's size initially led staff to mistake it for a female, which is typically larger. Hemsworth will be part of the park's antivenom program, where his venom, significantly more potent than that of females, will be extracted for lifesaving treatments. The park has relied on public donations for spider collection, emphasizing the importance of safely capturing and transporting these arachnids. Emma Teni, the park's spider keeper, highlighted how the venom from male funnel-webs is crucial, as it contains atracotoxin, making it essential for antivenom production. The park's program has successfully saved many lives since its inception in 1981, with no recorded fatalities from funnel-web spider bites in Australia.