The Brazilian wandering spider is the generic name for eight species of aggressive, dangerous spiders that belong to the genus Phoneutria- which is the Greek word for "murderess". This spider is the most venomous spider in this world. The first species was discovered in Brazil, hence the name, and because it crawls over the ground at night actively searching for prey, not waiting in ambush or spinning webs like other spiders. Brazilian wandering spiders are identified by the scarlet red hairs covering
their fangs, as well as their defensive posture of standing on their back legs while putting their front legs up in the air and swaying their bodies from side to side.
Two species of the Brazilian wandering spider are responsible for most bites, and are found in highly populated areas of southeastern Brazil and the Amazon, respectively. The remaining 6 species are scattered over the forests of Central and South America, except for the certain region in the northeastern part of Brazil, known as Bahia, which is free of any Phoneutria species. Most bites occur because the spider wanders at night then hides during the day in or under anything available, whether that be leaves, plants or logs on the forest floor, or shoes, clothing and boxes in people's homes. The spider is not afraid of humans, and will aggressively attack any human that it feels is a threat; this fact, doubled with the toxicity of its venom, makes it very dangerous.
Here are some interesting facts about the Brazilian wandering spider:
1. They are also known as the Banana Spider; due to their tendency to be found hiding in bunches of bananas being sorted after shipment.
2. A media frenzy exploded in 2008 after an employee at a Tulsa, Oklahoma grocery store mistakenly identified a harmless huntsman spider as a dangerous Brazilian wander spider in a bunch of bananas.
3. The Guinness Book of World Records named the Brazilian wandering spider the most venomous spider in the world in 2007.
How to prevent a bite from a Brazilian wandering spider:
- Keep things such as clothes, shoes and toys off the floor at night; this gives them less opportunity to stay hiding under them during the day.
- Be careful when picking objects off of the ground, those working outdoors should wear gloves as a protective measure.
- If you decide to keep a Brazilian wandering spider as a pet, keep a safe distance when feeding, and never attempt to handle it- no matter how tame it might appear.
How to treat the bite of a Brazilian wandering spider:
- Seek medical treatment immediately.
- The amount of venom injected per bite can vary- pain medication may be administered as the bite is extremely painful.
- If a large amount of venom is injected, antivenin may be administered to counter any possible lethal effects.
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