The Sydney funnel-web spider has extremely dangerous venom, but according to a new study this spider is actually three different species — one of which, the "Newcastle big boy," is much larger.

"If you are bitten by a funnel-web spider, call an ambulance and go straight to hospital," researcher Geoff Isbister said.

"Our research uncovered hidden diversity among funnel-web spiders," lead researcher Stephanie Loria said in a statement. "The Newcastle funnel-web, Atrax christenseni — 'Big Boy' — is a totally new ...

Dr Helen Smith, an arachnologist (spider biologist) at the Australian Museum and one of the authors of the study suggested naming the newly identified species from Newcastle after Christensen’s ...

longer-fanged species of one of the world’s deadliest spiders has been discovered by scientists in Australia. Nicknamed “Big Boy” and living just 100 miles north of Sydney, the Newcastle ...

The 'classic' Sydney funnel-web spider on the (left) and newly-identified Newcastle funnel-web variant 'Big Boy'. Picture: Kane Christensen In early January the Park received a spider named ...

A larger and more venomous species of one of the world's deadliest spiders has been confirmed by Australian scientists.

The Newcastle funnel-web (Atrax christenseni): Dubbed “Big Boy” for its size, this spider is not only the largest but also the most venomous of the three. “Our research uncovered hidden ...