New super-sized funnel web spider dubbed the ‘Big Boy’ is discovered – putting Aussies in one state on alert

Experts have discovered a larger and deadlier species of funnel web spider called the ‘Big Boy’.

The new species of the world’s most poisonous spider was discovered in 2018 by spider expert Kane Christensen of Australian Reptile Parks in the NSW city of Newcastle.

After spotting several spiders, Mr Christensen notified the Australian Museum in Sydney, which confirmed the arachnids were a new species.

The spider has been named Atrax christenseni, in honor of the spider expert.

‘It’s unbelievable. To have a spider that I am so passionate about named after me is just a dream come true. It’s super exciting,” Mr. Christensen said 9News.

He said the new species, which can grow up to 4.5cm in length, can inject more venom into its prey than common funnel webs found in Sydney.

‘The canines are much longer… that could amount to a deeper one [penetration] even through a glove… and the amount of poison injected,” he said.

“I looked at it and I was amazed that the sheer size of it for a male of that species was just… astronomical.”

The species can grow up to 4.5 cm in length, almost double the size of a regular funnel web

Mr Christensen’s discovery left scientists searching for a long time to determine whether the spiders were simply large individuals of the existing species, or whether they were a completely separate funnel-web species.

As scientists examined the physical structure of the Big Boy, they found that the embolus on the male spider appeared larger and more twisted.

The embolus is a part of the spider’s body that transfers sperm to a female spider and grows next to the fangs called the pedipalps.

The crucial observation combined with years of DNA analysis confirmed Dr. Michael Gray of the Australian Museum that there are three different types of funnel web.

Scientists have so far traced the range of Atrax christenseni to within 25km of the Newcastle region and it is unlikely the species will venture south to Sydney.

The other two species are the ‘classic’ Sydney funnel-web, also known as Atrax robustus, and the South Sydney funnel-web, known as Atrax montanus.

Professor Kristofer Helgen, director of the Australian Museum Research Institute, said it was an important discovery.

The new species of spider (photo) is almost twice the size of a normal funnel web

“This is a great moment in spider biology, this is the most venomous spider in the world,” said Professor Helgen.

The current antivenom used to treat funnel web spider bites will be effective against the new species.

The antivenom was first developed in the 1980s and since then no deaths from funnel web spider bites have been recorded in Australia.

Bites from the spider can cause muscle cramps, excessive sweating, and death is still possible if left untreated.