0 any of various poisonous spiders that make a web (= a sticky net) with a funnel-shaped entrance --
A funnel-web's burrow characteristically has irregular silk trip-lines radiating from the entrance.
Both these toxins produce the same funnel-web envenoming syndrome in monkeys as that seen in humans, suggesting that they are responsible for the physiological effects seen with crude venom.
Compared to the funnel-web, however, the mouse spider is far less aggressive towards humans, and may often give dry bites.
This same study revealed that children are at a particular risk of severe funnel-web envenoming, with 42% of all cases of severe envenoming being children.
When threatened or provoked, funnel-web spiders will display aggressive behaviour, rearing up on their hind legs and displaying their fangs.
