‘Mutant’ red fanged funnel web spider is a new level of scary

ALEX HEINKE reports.

If funnel-web spiders weren’t scary enough a rare ‘mutant’ variant of the Aussie spider has been seen on a research expedition in NSW.

The critter was discovered by scientists from the Australian National University, they were picking through a vast network of webs when the spider measuring about 5cm long jumped out at him.

The red hue, believed to be a pigment defect is not uncommon in funnel-web species, yet they generally appear on their underside.