Australia is home to the biggest male specimen of the most poisonous spider on the planet.

The Australian Reptile Park has welcomed the largest male specimen of the world's most venomous arachnid, the deadly Sydney funnel-web spider named "Hercules." Discovered by a member of the public on the Central Coast, approximately 50 miles north of Sydney, the spider, with fangs capable of penetrating a human fingernail, was initially handed over to a local hospital before being retrieved by spider experts from the reptile park.

Measuring an impressive 7.9 centimeters (3.1 inches) from foot to foot, Hercules surpassed the park's previous record holder, the 2018 male funnel web named "Colossus." Typically, Sydney funnel-web spiders range from one to five centimeters in length, with females generally larger but less venomous than males. They are commonly found in forested areas and suburban gardens spanning from Sydney to Newcastle in the north and the Blue Mountains to the west.

Hercules will play a crucial role in the reptile park's antivenom program. Captured spiders, safely handed in by the public, undergo a process of venom extraction through "milking," essential for producing life-saving antivenom.

Emma Teni, a spider keeper at the Australian Reptile Park, expressed excitement about receiving a male funnel-web of such significant size. She highlighted the potential value of Hercules in contributing to the park's venom program, emphasizing that while females are venomous, males have proven to be more lethal.

Despite the potency of funnel-web spider venom, there hasn't been a fatality in Australia from a funnel-web spider bite since the inception of the antivenom program in 1981. The recent rainy and humid weather along Australia's east coast has created favorable conditions for funnel-web spiders to thrive.