There are several spiders that are considered to be the deadliest in the world. The ranking of spiders by dangerousness is subjective, as some have more powerful venom, while others bite more often. However, the following spiders are frequently cited as having caused death or serious injury to humans:
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Funnel-web spiders: Native to Australia, these spiders boast venom thats so potent their bite can kill within minutes. The Sydney funnel web spider (Atrax robustus) can kill a toddler in about 5 minutes and a 5-year-old in about 2 hours.
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Redback and black widow spiders: These spiders are part of the Latrodectus genus and are found in Australia and the United States, respectively. Their venom is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s and can cause muscle aches, nausea, and difficulty breathing. Although fatalities are rare, they are still considered to be among the deadliest spiders in the world.
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Banana and wandering spiders: These spiders are part of the Phoneutria genus and are native to Brazil. They have the most neurologically active venom of any spider and are considered to be the deadliest of all the world’s spiders. Their venom is toxic to the nervous system, causing symptoms such as salivation, irregular heartbeat, and prolonged, painful erections (priapism) in men.
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Recluse spiders: These spiders are part of the Loxosceles genus and are found in the United States. They may be one of the most common causes of spider bites in the country and can produce skin lesions in people or produce allergic reactions that result in fatalities.
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Sydney funnel-web spider: According to the Guinness World Records, the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus) is the most dangerous spider to humans in the world. Native to Australia, this poisonous spider is found in moist habitats such as under logs or in gardens. The Sydney funnel-web spider has a venom potency of 0.2 mg/kg as a lethal dose for humans. The female spider is four to six times less venomous than the male.
Its important to note that while these spiders are considered to be the deadliest, fatalities from spider bites are extremely rare. Most spiders are venomous, but venomous doesnt necessarily mean dangerous to humans. The list of spiders that are dangerous to humans is much shorter than the list of spiders that are technically "poisonous".
