For some reason, a man got it into his head that he is the king of the whole world. That on this planet there is no creature stronger and more dangerous than him. But, alas, the reality is that there are creatures that can seriously shake his faith in himself. For example, the Brazilian wandering spider Phoneutria, or banana spider.
A meeting with such a formidable opponent often ends not in favor of a person. And although over the past decade, thanks to medicine, the number of deaths from its poison has been minimized, yet at the moment the banana spider is the most dangerous representative of the arthropod order.
Habitat
This gloomy jungle dweller prefers warm tropical climates. Therefore, the forests of Brazil and the Amazon are considered its natural habitat. Here, the banana spider feels like a king, and therefore freely travels from one place to another.
Also, representatives of the species can be found in Argentina. And a small number of these spiders have been seen in Uruguay. Such migration is due to the fact that in recent years the climate has changed a lot - thisallowed wandering spiders to expand their habitat.
Distinctive features of a spider
The banana spider, or Brazilian wandering spider, is distinguished by its size. So, the length of his body can reach 5 cm, although there have been cases when individuals were much larger. But more importantly, his paws reach a length of 15-17 cm. Because of this, he can develop tremendous speed for his size.
Most often these spiders have a light brown color, but sometimes it can change to a darker or even scarlet color. In general, the color of this spider depends on its habitat, thereby allowing it to perfectly camouflage even in open spaces. The entire body of the creature is covered with small bristles, and several dark stripes can be seen on the underside of the legs.
Another feature is the menacing stance that the Brazilian Banana Spider adopts when it encounters an enemy. He stands up on his hind legs, ready to pounce at the first opportunity, while his other limbs are raised up.
Features of behavior
The banana spider, unlike its relatives, practically does not weave webs from the web. He, like a wild beast, hunts, and his main trump card is speed and reaction. It can easily pounce on a victim that runs near the ambush.
These spiders mainly catch insects, as they are much easier to catch. But small rodents and lizards can also be his food. At the same time, the hero of our story is not at all embarrassed by the fact that the victim can exceedhim in both size and physical strength.
For example, there is evidence that a representative of the genus Phoneutria overcame an adult rat. And all because the banana spider uses a strong poison that can paralyze the victim in a matter of seconds. After that, the predator can only drag the prey to a place convenient for him, so that no one interferes with his meal.
Eternal Wanderer
These spiders never stay long in one place. Day after day, they cross vast territories in search of new victims. That is why the banana spider is also called wandering or wandering.
The main problem is that in his travels he often wanders into settlements. And if at night he hunts on the street, then this spider spends the day in shelters, thereby avoiding the great heat.
Quite often, the banana spider chooses the homes of ordinary people as its haven, climbing into nooks and crannies. There are cases when they were found in shoes and even in bed.
Why is the spider called banana?
Many wonder why this spider is called banana. The thing is that this predator loves to set up his ambushes among the bunches of bananas. After all, these fruits lure insects, thereby making life easier for the spider.
The trouble is that people often fall into the same trap. Carelessly taking a branch of bananas, a person runs the risk of immediately getting a portion of poison in his hand. It also happens that a Brazilian spider, hiding in a fruit box, can travel hundreds of kilometers. Therefore, do not be surprised that sometimes these individuals are found far beyond the borders of Brazil and Argentina.
Frequent attacks on people
Unlike its relatives, the banana spider is not at all afraid of people. Moreover, he can attack them at the first opportunity. This makes it very dangerous, especially for children and the elderly.
Brazilian authorities understand the threat posed by the banana spider. Photos of these creatures are regularly shown to children so that they know their enemy by sight. They are also given special briefings, which tell them how to avoid an attack, and what to do if the spider still bites.
And yet people continue to be terrorized by banana spiders. The reason for this is the high population density in Brazilian cities, especially in the slums.
What is the danger of banana spider venom?
Many believe that this spider has the most deadly poison. The reason is that the neurotoxins contained in it cause muscle paralysis. Because of this, breathing is difficult, there is a risk of cardiac arrest.
And although the banana spider injects no more than 30% of its poison into the enemy's body during a bite, even this amount can lead to death. Especially in cases where the victims are children or people suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
It is good if the victim goes to the clinic in time - thendeath can be avoided. In addition, almost all medical centers in the countries listed above have a vaccine that can neutralize the poison of a wandering spider.
Special side effect
If we talk about the bite of this spider, then one very remarkable fact cannot be ignored. So, in men who suffered from the attack of the mentioned predator, a strong erection is observed. According to doctors, such an action can last for several hours, which further complicates the situation in which the poor fellow finds himself.
Some scientists want to use this property of banana spider venom to create a new cure for impotence. True, so far these are only preliminary studies, and all tests were carried out only on experimental mice. And yet, scientists remain optimistic and believe that over time, the poison of this spider will bring not only harm, but also benefit.
