Brazilian wandering spider 277833 225255123 2008-07-12T18:46:59Z 212.10.79.182 returned to older version to bypass unreasoned deletion of section by [[Special:Contributions/74.167.140.65|IP 74.167.140.65]] {{Taxobox | image = Wandering_spider.jpg | image_caption = ''Phoneutria nigriventer'' | image_width = 250px | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Arthropod]]a | classis = [[Arachnid]]a | ordo = [[Spider|Araneae]] | familia = [[Ctenidae]] | genus = '''''Phoneutria''''' | genus_authority = [[Josef Anton Maximilian Perty|Perty]], 1833 | diversity_link = List of Ctenidae species#Phoneutria | diversity = 8 species | type_species = ''Phoneutria fera'' | type_species_authority = Perty, 1833 | range_map = | range_map_width = 250px | subdivision_ranks = [[Species]] | subdivision = ''P. bahiensis''<br/>''P. boliviensis''<br/>''P. eickstedtae''<br/>''P. fera''<br/>''P. keyserlingi''<br/>''P. nigriventer''<br/>''P. pertyi''<br/>''P. reidyi'' }} The '''Brazilian wandering spiders''' ('''''Phoneutria spp.'''''), '''Armed spiders''' ("aranhas armadeiras", as they are known in [[Brazilian Portuguese|Portuguese]]) or '''banana spiders''' (not to be confused with the relatively harmless species of the genus ''[[Nephila]]'') are a genus of aggressive and highly [[Venomous Spiders|venomous spiders]] found in tropical [[South America|South]] and [[Central America]]. These spiders are members of the [[Ctenidae]] family of wandering spiders. The Brazilian wandering spiders appear in the [[Guinness Book of World Records]] 2007 for the most [[venom]]ous animal and is the spider considered directly responsible for most human deaths due to [[envenomation]]s from a [[spider bite]].<ref name="Herzig-toxicon">{{cite journal | author = Herzig V, John Ward R, Ferreira dos Santos W | title = Intersexual variations in the venom of the Brazilian 'armed' spider Phoneutria nigriventer (Keyserling, 1891) | journal = Toxicon | volume = 40 | issue = 10 | pages = 1399&ndash;406 | year = 2002 | pmid = 12368110 | doi = 10.1016/S0041-0101(02)00136-8}}</ref> ==Description== The genus ''Phoneutria'' (Greek for "Murderess") contains eight similar [[Binomial nomenclature|scientifically described]] [[species]]. The Brazilian wandering spiders can grow to have a leg span of up to 4-5 inches (10-13 cm). Their body length ranges from 17 to 48 mm.<ref name=martins2007>Martins & Bertani 2007</ref> The genus is distinguished from other related genera such as ''[[Ctenus]]'' by the presence of dense prolateral scopulae on the [[pedipalp]] tibiae and tarsi in both sexes.<ref name=martins2007/> The [[wandering spider]]s are so-called because they wander the jungle floor at night, rather than residing in a lair or maintaining a web. During the day they hide inside [[termite]] mounds, under fallen logs and rocks, and in [[banana]] plants and [[bromeliad]]s. At least ''P. nigriventer'' is known to hide in dark and moist places in or near human dwellings.<ref name=martins2007/> ''P. nigriventer'' mates during the dry season from April to June, which leads to frequent observations of the species during this time.<ref name=martins2007/> ==Distribution== ''Phoneutria'' are found in forests from [[Costa Rica]] throughout [[South America]] east of the [[Andes]] into northern [[Argentina]], including [[Colombia]], [[Venezuela]], [[Guyana]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]], [[Bolivia]], [[Brazil]] and [[Paraguay]]. Three species (''P. fera'', ''P. reidyi'' and ''P. boliviensis'') are found in the [[Amazon region]], while the others are restricted to Atlantic rainforest of Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil, including forest fragments in the [[Cerrado]] (savannah). In Brazil ''Phoneutria'' is only absent in the northeastern region north of [[Salvador, Bahia]].<ref name=martins2007/> ''Phoneutria'' was introduced to [[Chile]] and [[Uruguay]].<ref name=martins2007/> ==Species== Per early 2008, this genus contains eight species:<ref>[http://research.amnh.org/entomology/spiders/catalog/CTENIDAE.html The world spider catalog], version 8.5. ''American Museum of Natural History''. Accessed February 9, 2008.</ref> *''[[Phoneutria bahiensis]]'' <small>Simó & Brescovit, 2001</small> — Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. *''[[Phoneutria boliviensis]]'' <small>([[Frederick Octavius Pickard-Cambridge|F. O. Pickard-Cambridge]], 1897)</small> — Central, South America. *''[[Phoneutria eickstedtae]]'' <small>Martins & Bertani, 2007</small> — Brazil. *''[[Phoneutria fera]]'' <small>Perty, 1833</small> — Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, Surinam, Guyana.<!--see: Silva, B. J. F., & Overal, W. L. (1999). Ocorrência de ''Phoneutria fera'' (Araneae: Ctenidae) no Estado do Pará, Brasil. ''Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, série Zoologia, 15''(2), 135-141.--> *''[[Phoneutria keyserlingi]]'' <small>(F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897)</small> — Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. *''[[Phoneutria nigriventer]]'' <small>([[Eugen von Keyserling|Keyserling]], [[1891]])</small> — Brazil, northern Argentina; introduced to Uruguay. *''[[Phoneutria pertyi]]'' <small>(F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897)</small> — Atlantic rainforest of Brazil. *''[[Phoneutria reidyi]]'' <small>(F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897)</small> — Venezuela, Peru, Brazil, Guyana, Costa Rica. ==Danger to humans== ''Phoneutria'' has a highly [[venom (poison)|venomous]] bite. They include some of the relatively few species of spiders that present a threat to human beings. These spiders are notorious both due to their [[toxic]] venom, and because they are not reluctant to attack people who appear threatening. Of the eight described species, ''P. nigriventer'' and ''P. fera'' most frequently receive mention in mass-media publications. ''P. nigriventer'' is the species responsible for most cases of venom intoxication in Brazil because it commonly is found in highly populated areas of south-eastern [[Brazil]], such as the states of [[São Paulo (state)|São Paulo]], [[Minas Gerais]], [[Rio de Janeiro (state)|Rio de Janeiro]] and [[Espírito Santo]]. The species ''P. fera'' is native to the northern portion of South America in the [[Amazon Rainforest|Amazon]] of Brazil, [[Venezuela]], [[Ecuador]], [[Peru]] and the [[Guyanas]]. Recent studies suggest that these spiders only inject venom in approximately one-third of their bites and may only inject a small amount in another third. However, research in this area is hindered by the difficulty of identifying particular subspecies. Bites from these spiders may result in only a couple of painful pinpricks to full-blown envenomation. In either case, people bitten by a ''Phoneutria'' or any Ctenid should seek immediate emergency treatment as the venom is possibly life threatening. ''P. fera'' and ''P. nigriventer'' are the two most commonly implicated as the most virulent of the ''Phoneutria'' spiders. ''Phoneutria'' not only has a potent [[neurotoxin]], but is reported to have one of the most excruciatingly painful envenomations of all spiders due to its high concentration of [[serotonin]]. Their wandering nature is another reason it is considered so dangerous. In densely populated areas, ''Phoneutria'' species usually search for cover and dark places to hide during daytime, leading it to hide within houses, clothes, cars, boots, boxes and log piles; thus generating accidents when people disturb it. Its other common name - the "banana spider" - as attributed because it is occasionally found as a 'stowaway' within shipments of [[bananas]]. Despite their reputation as the world's deadliest spiders, there are multiple studies that dispute their capacity for fatal human envenomation. One study suggested that only 2.3% of bites (mainly in children) were serious enough to require [[antivenin]].<ref>Bucaretchi ''et al.'', 2000</ref> However, other sources suggest they are the most dangerous or toxic spiders in the world based upon toxicology studies. One of the most notable and thorough studies is presented in the book ''"Venomous Animals and their Venoms Vol. III" edited by Wolfgang Bucheral and Eleanor Buckley'', and clearly demonstrate ''Phoneutria nigriventer'''s extreme toxicity in a table showing that the amount necessary to kill a 20g mouse was only .006mg ([[Intravenous therapy|intravenously]]) and .0134 [[Subcutaneous tissue|subcutaneously]] as compared to ''Latrodectus mactans'' ([[Black widow spider|Black Widow]]) at 0.110 and 0.2 respectively. The same study reports the death of two children killed by the same spider in [[São Sebastião, São Paulo|São Sebastião]] identified as a ''Phoneutria'', and identified by Bucheral. This demonstrates the fact that identification is key in the process of accurately associating a bite with the correct, offending species. Both ''P. nigriventer'' and ''P. fera'' are extremely dangerous. Pharmalogical studies strongly suggest the danger of ''Phoneutria'' envenomation and ranks various species of the ''Phoneutria'' genus arguably as one of the world's most dangerous spiders. Aside from causing intense pain, the venom of the spider can also cause [[priapism]] - uncomfortable erections that can last for many hours and lead to impotence. The venom may eventually be used in erectile dysfunction treatments.<ref>[http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,269455,00.html "Natural Viagra: Brazilian Spider Bite Causes Hours-Long Erection"]. ''[[FoxNews]]'', [[May 1]], 2007. Accessed May 6, 2007.</ref> ==In fiction== [[List_of_Metal_Gear_Solid_3:_Snake_Eater_characters#The_Fear|The Fear]], an antagonist from the video game ''[[Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater]]'', uses the venom from the Brazilian wandering spider on his crossbow bolts to fire at the player. Synthetic Brazilian Wandering Spider venom was also used as a murder weapon in an episode of [[CSI: NY]]. ==Footnotes==<!-- Boletim do Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi 15: 135 --> {{reflist}} ==References== * {{cite journal | author = Bucaretchi F, Deus Reinaldo C, Hyslop S, Madureira P, De Capitani E, Vieira R | title = A clinico-epidemiological study of bites by spiders of the genus Phoneutria | journal = Rev Inst Med Trop São Paulo | volume = 42 | issue = 1 | pages = 17–21 | year = 2000| pmid = 10742722| url=http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?pid=S0036-46652000000100003&script=sci_arttext&tlng=en}} * {{aut|Martins, Rosana & Bertani, Rogério}} (2007): The non-Amazonian species of the Brazilian wandering spiders of the genus ''Phoneutria'' Perty, 1833 (Araneae: Ctenidae), with the description of a new species. ''Zootaxa'' '''1526''': 1-36. (with key and pictures) — [http://www.mapress.com/zootaxa/2007f/z01526p036f.pdf Abstract] ==External links== {{commons|Phoneutria nigriventer}} *[http://frontpage.fok.nl/nieuws/90910/-Erectiespin-in-Friese-supermarkt.html "Spider found between bananas in Dutch supermarket"] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/somerset/4489033.stm BBC News article "Pub chef bitten by deadly spider"] *[http://news.com.com/2061-10786_3-5690575.html?part=rss&tag=5690575&subj=news Camera phone saves man from deadly spider] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/4182228.stm BBC News article "Web used to trace deadly spider"] *[http://www.flickr.com/photos/techuser/sets/72157603167029346/ An illustrative set of pictures of ''Ctenidae''] *[http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/spidermyth/myths/downunder.html Picture of ''P. nigriventer''] *[http://www.livescience.com/humanbiology/070501_spider_venom.html Potential drug for erectile dysfunction] *[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6625397.stm BBC News article "Spider Venom Could Boost Sex Life"] *[http://ekstrabladet.dk/kup/fodevarer/article446725.ece Spider killed in danish supermarket] *[http://www.dutchdailynews.com/spider-killed-in-supermarket/ Brazilian wandering spider killed in Dutch hypermarket] [[Category:Ctenidae]] [[Category:Spiders of South America]] [[ar:العنكبوت البرازيلي الجوال]] [[de:Phoneutria nigriventer]] [[eo:Brazila migra araneo]] [[fr:Phoneutria nigriventer]] [[pt:Armadeira]]