No. 70: Encounter something deadly.

SWEET ZOMBIE JESUS! A REDBACK SPIDER IN THE GARDEN! ARGH!

The redback spider (Latrodectus hasseltii)is a dangerous spider endemic to Australia. It is a member of the genus Latrodectus, the widow spiders, which are found throughout the world. The female is easily recognisable by her black body with a prominent red stripe on the upper side (i.e. the back) of her abdomen. Females have a body length of about a centimetre, while the male is smaller, being only 3 to 4 mm long. The redback spider is one of few arachnids which usually display sexual cannibalism while mating. Redbacks are considered one of the most dangerous species of spiders in Australia. It's neurotoxic venom is toxic to humans, with bites causing severe pain, often for over 24 hours. An antivenom is commercially available, and since its introduction in 1956, no deaths due to redback bites have been reported.

Bites from redback spiders produce a syndrome known as latrodectism, with symptoms similar to bites from other Latrodectus spiders. The syndrome is generally characterised by extreme pain and severe swelling. The bite may be painful from the start, but sometimes only feels like a pinprick or mild burning sensation. Within an hour, victims generally develop more severe local pain with local swelling and sometimes piloerection (goosebumps). Pain, swelling and redness spread proximally from the site. Systemic envenoming is heralded by swollen or tender regional lymph nodes; associated features include malaise, nausea, vomiting, abdominal or chest pain, generalised sweating, headache, fever, hypertension and tremor. Rare complications include seizure, coma, pulmonary edema, respiratory failure or localised skin infection. Severe pain can persist for over 24 hours after being bitten.

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This perhaps doesn't constitute actually encountering something deadly - however, it was pretty sobering knowing, had I set foot too far into those quite alluring waters, my piggies would have made a tasty morsel for some leviathon of the deep.