Lexi Webster
Australia is home to a wide variety of spiders, including the Goliath spider, whistling spiders, and huntsman spiders. Huntsman spiders are large, long-legged spiders that are mostly grey to brown in colour, sometimes with banded legs. They are often confused with tarantulas due to their hairy nature and size, but can be distinguished by their laterigrade legs, similar to those of crabs. On average, a huntsman spider's leg span can reach up to 15 cm (5.9 in), with some male giant huntsman spiders (Heteropoda maxima) in Laos attaining a leg span of 25–30 centimetres (9.8–11.8 in). They are commonly found in sheds, garages, and other infrequently disturbed places, and are known for entering houses and cars. While they are venomous, their bites are usually not harmful to humans.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Atticus Spiders, Huntsman Spiders |
| Scientific Name | Family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae) |
| Size | Up to 15 cm (6 inches) leg span; bodies about 1.8 cm (0.7 inches) long |
| Colour | Grey to brown, sometimes with banded legs; underside marked in black and white |
| Habitat | Under rocks, bark, sheds, garages, and infrequently disturbed places |
| Diet | Insects and other invertebrates |
| Behaviour | Hunt their prey instead of using webs; venomous but rarely bite humans |
| Lifespan | About 2 years or more |
| Predators | Birds, geckoes, spider wasps, nematode worms, and egg parasites |
| Distribution | Throughout Australia, except for most of southeastern Australia and Tasmania |
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What You'll Learn
- Huntsman spiders: large, long-legged, hairy spiders, often mistaken for tarantulas
- Whistling spiders: large enough to prey on small frogs and reptiles
- Badge huntsman spiders: venomous, but not harmful to humans
- Goliath spiders: Australia's biggest spiders, with a body length of up to 9cm
- Daddy-long-legs spiders: a common name for two different groups of arachnids
Huntsman spiders: large, long-legged, hairy spiders, often mistaken for tarantulas
Huntsman spiders, members of the family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae), are large, long-legged, hairy spiders often mistaken for tarantulas. They are native to tropical and warm temperate regions worldwide, including much of Australia. Huntsman spiders are excellent hunters, chasing their prey instead of capturing them in webs. They are also extremely fast and agile, able to traverse walls and ceilings.
Huntsman spiders are mostly grey to brown in colour, sometimes with banded legs. They have flattened bodies, which help them thrive in narrow spaces. The body of the huntsman spider is relatively small compared to its legs, often measuring just 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm). Their legs can have a span of up to 12 inches (30.5 cm).
The Australian Museum notes that huntsman spiders are "hairy so-called 'tarantulas' on house walls that terrify people by scuttling out from behind curtains." People often confuse them with tarantulas due to their hairy nature. However, huntsman spiders can be distinguished by their long, angular, crab-like legs that help them move forward, sideways, and even upside down. Their legs, instead of bending vertically relative to the body, have joints twisted so that they spread out forward and laterally.
Huntsman spiders are generally harmless to humans. While they can bite if they feel seriously threatened, their venom is mild and not dangerous to humans. They are considered valuable allies in controlling pest populations in homes and gardens, as they feed on insects, small lizards, and other arthropods.
In Australia, the badge huntsman spider (Neosparassus spp.) is common. They are often found in cars, hiding behind sun visors or running across the dashboard. The social huntsman spider (Delena cancerides) is also native to Australia, living in colonies of up to 300 under the bark of dead trees.
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Whistling spiders: large enough to prey on small frogs and reptiles
Whistling spiders, or the Queensland whistling tarantula, are large enough to prey on small frogs and reptiles. They are also known as the "bird-eating tarantula", though they rarely eat birds. The spiders predominantly feed on invertebrates, including insects and other spiders. Small vertebrates such as geckos, skinks, and frogs are also part of their diet.
The Queensland whistling tarantula is a species of tarantula native to the east coast of Queensland, Australia. It is the largest spider in Australia, with a body length of between 6 and 9 cm (2.4 and 3.5 in) and a leg span of up to 22 cm (8.7 in). The female whistling tarantula can live up to thirty years, while the males live up to eight years.
The Queensland whistling tarantula is so-called due to its ability to produce a hissing noise when provoked, a trait it shares with other Australian theraphosids. This hissing is produced by the spider stridulating a patch of setae associated with its chelicerae. It is also sometimes called the \"eastern tarantula".
The bite from an eastern tarantula is not fatal to a human but can cause up to six hours of vomiting. The venom can cause death to a dog or cat within thirty minutes.
The Queensland whistling tarantula is a fast-growing spider and is widely sought after as a pet. They are burrowing arachnids, living underground in burrows that can be up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) deep. Young spiders find natural burrows under rocks or roots, while adults expand their burrows up to 2 metres (6.6 ft).
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Badge huntsman spiders: venomous, but not harmful to humans
The badge huntsman spider is a venomous arachnid that lives across Australia. While it is poisonous, it poses little risk to humans. People should seek medical assistance if severe pain, swelling, sweating, nausea and vomiting persist after a bite. The badge huntsman is differentiated from other huntsman species as its first two pairs of legs are longer than its hind pairs. They can reach a leg span of 15-23cm. With leg joints that twist and spread out forwards and sideways, badge huntsman spiders can move in a crab-like fashion. They are hairy and long-legged, making them one of the most visibly frightening spiders found in Hobart.
Huntsman spiders can fit into small crevices, under rocks, and through small cracks in bedroom, bathroom, or kitchen walls. They can also climb up and down smooth surfaces with ease due to the adhesiveness of the hairs on their legs and feet. These "furry paws" allow them the traction to haul not just their own body weight but also their prey's up and down walls or roofs. The badge huntsman hunts at night and feeds on insects and other invertebrates.
Badge huntsman spiders make their homes under loose bark in woodlands. They like to build a silky retreat under bark for nesting and laying eggs. The female huntsman will guard her nest aggressively, rearing up in a defensive display if provoked or disturbed. They are usually found in cars, either running across the dashboard or hiding behind sun visors. Feeding on insects in dimly lit rooms around the house at night gives the spider a spooky appearance, as its legs can cast exaggerated shadows.
Like most Australian animals, these spiders will only bite if their nest is disturbed or provoked. Baby badge huntsman spiders are green in colour before changing into the tan or grey colour of their parents. Bites from badge huntsman spiders can result in localized pain and swelling. Their bites can also sometimes result in sweating, abdominal pain, and vomiting. However, no other serious or deadly symptoms have been recorded from a badge huntsman bite.
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Goliath spiders: Australia's biggest spiders, with a body length of up to 9cm
Australia is home to a diverse range of spiders, some of which are among the largest in the world. While there may not be any spiders in Australia with a body length of up to 9cm, there are certainly some that come close in size and are worth noting for their impressive dimensions.
One of the largest spiders in Australia is the Sydney funnel-web spider (Atrax robustus), which can grow up to 3.8 centimeters in length. This spider is not only large but also highly venomous, making it a formidable creature. It is found throughout the city and suburbs of Sydney and is known for its glossy black colour.
Another spider that rivals the Sydney funnel-web in size is the huntsman spider. While the average body length of a huntsman spider is around 1.8 centimeters, they can have a leg span of up to 15 centimeters. Huntsman spiders are famous for their long legs, which are twisted and extend forward in a crab-like fashion. They are commonly found in Australia, inhabiting crevices in tree bark and occasionally venturing into human dwellings.
One particular species of huntsman spider, the giant huntsman spider (Heteropoda maxima), is even larger. While its body length is typically around 4.6 centimeters, its impressive leg span can reach up to 30 centimeters. This species was discovered in Laos and is the largest known member of the Sparassidae family.
While they may not quite reach 9 centimeters in body length, these large spiders of Australia certainly capture the attention with their size and presence. Their existence showcases the fascinating diversity of arachnids that inhabit this country.
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Daddy-long-legs spiders: a common name for two different groups of arachnids
The term "daddy-longlegs" is used to refer to two different groups of arachnids. The first group, known as "harvestmen", are not spiders. They have one body section (as opposed to two in most spiders), two eyes on a small bump (most spiders have eight), a segmented abdomen (unsegmented in spiders), and no silk or venom. They also have a different respiratory system and unique defensive mechanisms. Harvestmen are more closely related to scorpions than spiders.
The second group, known as "daddy-longlegs spiders" or "cellar spiders", are indeed spiders and belong to the family Pholcidae. They have two basic body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen), eight eyes usually clumped together at the front of the body, an unsegmented abdomen, and eight legs attached to the front-most body part. They spin webs out of silk and have short fangs, which are called "uncate" due to their secondary tooth that meets the fang.
The confusion surrounding the term "daddy-longlegs" arises from its use to describe two distinct types of arachnids. The term is commonly used to refer to harvestmen, especially by Americans who spend time outdoors, some Canadians, and some southeastern Americans. However, there is also a spider species known as daddy-longlegs spiders or cellar spiders, which are likely what people are referring to when they mention these creatures in cellars or indoor settings.
Daddy-longlegs, or harvestmen, are characterised by their long, flexible legs, with some species having short legs as well. They are usually found under logs and rocks in moist habitats, although they can also be found in deserts. They feed on decomposing vegetative and animal matter and are opportunistic predators. Daddy-longlegs do not possess venom glands, fangs, or any mechanism for chemically subduing their prey. Instead, they rely on their defensive stink glands to repel predators and can voluntarily shed their legs to escape, a strategy known as autotomy.
Daddy-longlegs spiders, or cellar spiders, are pale grey or tan with banding or chevron markings. They are known for making their webs in cellars, which has earned them the common name of "cellar spiders". These spiders are arachnids, so they share characteristics with both spiders and scorpions, including eight legs attached to the front-most body part.
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Frequently asked questions
Huntsman spiders in Australia can grow to be about 6 inches long, with a body length of about 0.7 inches. They are often confused for tarantulas due to their hairy nature, but they are less bulky and have crab-like legs.
The average leg span of a huntsman spider can reach up to 5.9 inches (15 cm). However, in some cases, they can even reach up to 9.8-11.8 inches (25-30 cm).
Yes, huntsman spiders are venomous and can bite humans. However, they rarely bite and their venom is not considered to be very dangerous.
