Bob: How I love to pick nits. The South American "tarantula" (bananna spider) is actually a huntsman and is relatively harmless. The funnel web's relative is the southern Italian tarantula (the tarantella) is a the one related to the funnel web.

By the way, for those interested, the funnel web has its fangs vertical whereas most spiders have them horizontal. This means the funnel webs rear up and press their fangs into the vicitm. Other spiders have to hold onto the victims whilst they "bite". This is why the family seems so agressive. Their natural defensive position is reared up with fangs ready to strike. Nonetheless, they do seem primitive and strike at the slightest provication. A colleague of mine had one in a jar with a piece of rock provided for it to climb under. If you approached the jar it would rear up. If you would so much as blow on it, it would begin striking the rock until you could see the venum dripping on its fangs.