AFRICA'S SCARIEST SPIDERS

There are many spiders in Africa considered harmless, yet there still exist dangerous and scary spiders in Africa.

BABOON SPIDER

Baboon spiders are a sub family of tarantula that includes more than 40 individual species in South Africa alone. Scientific name: pelinobius muticus. It is the only species in the genus pelinobus.
The baboon spider can grow up to 20 cm
in leg span and it is a slow growing specie.
All baboon spider have a set of destructive characteristics in common they are large and capable of influencing a painful bite. They have a very strong venom, symptoms of their bite includes dizziness and vomiting. 

BUTTON SPIDER

Button spider is a common name used in Southern Africa to refer to local members of the spider genus, Latrodectus, the family

Theridiidae also known as widow spider in other part of the world. There are six different species found in Africa. Four of these are classified as black button or black widow spider. Their venom are highly neurotic, their bite constitute a medical emergency, their bite on children can be very fatal or can lead to death. 

OGRE-FACED SPIDER

Ogre-faced spider belongs to the genus Deinopis, of which there are at least 8 different species living in continental Africa. They are not harmful but has a terrifying nature. 

They are known as net-casting spiders because they build unusual webs that they suspend between the front leg, they stretch the net to two or three times its relaxed size and propel itself when it sees a prey.

SAC SPIDER


Experts believe sac spiders cause more bites than any other type of spider in Africa.
The sac spider belong to the family clubionidae. Their venom is cytotoxic, which means that it kills cells and causes tissue breakdown and blistering at the bite site. Its bite are considered painful but not life threatening.

SIX EYED SAND SPIDER

Six eyed sand spider is a medium sized spider with body measuring 8 to 15mm and legs spanning up to 50mm found in the deserts and other sandy place in southern Africa. This species bite has been

proven capable of killing a rabbit under 12 hours. Its venom is both hemolytic and neurotoxic, causing leaking blood vessels and destroyed tissues. Its bite are very uncommon, there are two proven cases and only two suspected cases while the culprit was never identified.