Poisonous South African Spiders
South Africa covers an area of 471,443 square miles, encompassing the entire southern tip of Africa. The country is home to a vast diversity of wildlife, including over 3,000 species of spiders representing 67 families, according to author Martin R. Filmer in his book "Southern African Spiders: An Identification Guide." Of the many species found in South Africa only a few are venomous enough to harm humans.
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Black Button Spider
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Known as widow spiders in the United States, button spiders (Latrodectus) commonly occur throughout South Africa and Madagascar. Their bulbous black abdomens, long legs and striking red markings make them easily identifiable, as do their sturdy, funnel-shaped webs and large white egg-sacs. They occur throughout human-inhabited areas, preferring man-made structures that provide warmth, dryness and undisturbed areas such as attics or woodpiles. Although black button spiders are shy and non-aggressive, living within close proximity of humans sometimes leads to negative encounters. Only females of the species are capable of biting through human skin, and although their venom is very toxic to humans fatalities are rare.
Six-Eyed Sand Spider
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Six-eyed sand spiders (Sicarius) are found in remote, uninhabited desert areas of South Africa. Sometimes called crab spiders for their stance, this species has a flattened, reddish-brown body covered in minute hairs called "setae" that help retain valuable moisture close to the body. They are small, at less than one inch in length, with highly effective camouflage and a burrowing habit, making them difficult to detect. Researchers consider the six-eyed sand spider to be among the deadliest arachnids in the world based on the potency and volume of their venom, which has resulted in one known human fatality. Fortunately, encounters with this species are extremely rare due to their remote habitat and non-aggressive nature.
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Violin Spider
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Relatives of the recluse spiders of North America, violin spiders (Loxosceles) occur throughout southern Africa, including South Africa, Namibia and Swaziland. They have small, oval-shaped bodies, long, slender legs and a golden-brown coloration, often with a dark violin-shaped marking on the abdomen. They do not built webs, instead making their home in human habitations, especially under floorboards and in little-used cabinets. In nature, this species rests under bark, in rotting logs and under stones. Most encounters with violin spiders take place at night when they are hunting, and although bites are rare they are extremely painful, leading to an inflamed, ulcerated wound that requires medical treatment.
Baboon Spider
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Baboon spiders (Theraphosidae), also known as tarantulas, are a diverse group of arachnids with over 40 species found in South Africa. They are large, heavy-bodied and hairy, with diverse coloration ranging from golden-brown to black. Baboon spiders favor arid conditions and are seldom found near human habitation. They are "trap-door" hunters that create funnel-shaped, silk-lined burrows where they lie in wait for prey. Bites from baboon spiders are exceedingly rare and, although very painful, they are not known to be deadly to humans.
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References
- Photo Credit tarantula image by Tonda from Fotolia.com
