Venomius

{{Short description|Monotypic genus of spider}}

{{Speciesbox

| parent_authority = Rossi, Castanheira, Baptista & Framenau, 2023

| taxon = Venomius tomhardyi

| authority = Rossi, Castanheira, Baptista & Framenau, 2023

}}

Venomius is a genus of orb-weaver spider endemic to southern Australia, where it is found from southern Western Australia east to Tasmania. It contains only a single species, V. tomhardyi.{{Cite journal |last1=Rossi |first1=Giullia de F. |last2=Castanheira |first2=Pedro de S. |last3=Baptista |first3=Renner L. C. |last4=Framenau |first4=Volker W. |date=2023-04-09 |title=Venomius, a new monotypic genus of Australian orb-weaving spiders (Araneae, Araneidae) |url=https://evolsyst.pensoft.net/article/110022/ |journal=Evolutionary Systematics |language=en |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=285–292 |doi=10.3897/evolsyst.7.110022 |doi-access=free |issn=2535-0730}}

It was named after the Marvel Comics character Venom, with its species name referencing actor Tom Hardy, who portrayed the character in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. The genus name came from the black spots on the spider's abdomen, which reminded the authors of Venom's head.{{Cite web |title=The venom spider: New genus named after Tom Hardy's Marvel character |url=https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1001046 |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=EurekAlert! |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Wood |first=Anthony |date=2023-09-12 |title=The Venom Spider: New Genus Named After Tom Hardy's Marvel Anti-Hero |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-venom-spider-new-genus-named-after-tom-hardys-marvel-anti-hero |access-date=2023-12-27 |website=IGN |language=en}}

It physically resembles the genera Phonognatha and Leviana in morphology and coloration, but has very different genital morphology. It builds webs on exposed tree branches in bushland or forests near the coast, creating silk-lined holes.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-09-11 |title=The Venom Spider: new genus named after Tom Hardy's Marvel character |url=https://blog.pensoft.net/2023/09/11/the-venom-spider-new-genus-named-after-tom-hardys-marvel-character/ |access-date=2023-12-27 |language=en-US}}