Meet Hemsworth the funnel web

The Australian Reptile Park has received the biggest male funnel web spider ever donated to its antivenom program during peak breeding season.

Measuring in at a whopping 9.2cm, the newest arrival, dubbed Hemsworth after the famous Aussie brothers, has fangs that could pierce through a human fingernail.

The spider was handed in at one of the Park’s spider drop-off locations in Newcastle.

It has beaten its predecessor Hercules, handed in just last year.

Spider keeper Emma Teni said receiving a male funnel-web this big was like hitting the jackpot.

“While female funnel web spiders are venomous, males are known to be far more dangerous,” she said.

“Having a male funnel web of this size in our collection means his venom output could be substantial, making him an invaluable asset to the Park’s venom program.

“This spider was just so big in comparison to his peers it reminded me of Chris Hemsworth and his brothers, and how they tower over the average person.

“Now I get to say I go to work with a Hemsworth every day.”

Teni said residents could bring spiders directly to the Reptile Park or to any of the designated drop-off zones across Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.

Each drop-off location is equipped with a spider safety kit to securely contain the spiders until collected by reptile park staff.

The Park relies on public donations of funnel web spiders to keep venom supplies ongoing.

The spiders are milked weekly for their raw venom, which is sent off to Seqirus in Melbourne to be made into lifesaving antivenom.

Since the inception of the program in 1981, the program has saved countless lives and here has not been a single death from a funnel-web spider bite since the introduction of the program.

To find your nearest location, go toreptilepark.com.au/animals-at-the-australian-reptile-park/venom-program/spider-drop-off-points/