About Missulena bradleyi Rainbow, 1914
Missulena bradleyi, also called the Eastern mouse spider, is often confused with Australian funnel-web spiders. Females of this species are large and very strong, with powerful chelicerae. The fangs of Eastern mouse spiders often cross slightly over each other, while the fangs of Australian funnel-web spiders stay parallel. Australian funnel-web spiders also often have a drop of venom on their fang tips and have longer spinnerets than Eastern mouse spiders. Male Eastern mouse spiders have a lighter trapezium-shaped patch, which can range in colour from white and pale blue to mauve. Female Eastern mouse spiders have abdomens coloured from brown to almost black. Both sexes of Missulena bradleyi have a shiny black carapace.
