Common Spiders in Australia

While the poisonous spiders of Australia get most of the attention, a wide variety of harmless, colorful spiders with interesting behaviors can be found in the average back yard.

Lynx Spiders

Lynx spiders do not weave a web, but go on the hunt for prey. These spiders have thorny-looking spines on their legs that make them easy to identify.

St. Andrew's Cross

The St. Andrews Cross is readily identifiable by the cross shaped configuration of its legs when it is sitting on its web. They also build a white "X" (cross shape) or zig-zag into their webs.

Crab Spiders

Crab spiders move sideways in a crab-like fashion when they're disturbed. They hide using their unique coloring as camouflage, seeming to disappear against the flowers where they hunt.

Netcasters

The Netcasting spider holds its web in its front legs and uses it actively to catch passing prey. They are remarkable for their three rows of eyes and two individual eyes, which are very large.

Mouse

Mouse spiders live in burrows constructed with trap doors. They rarely leave the burrow area and are not aggressive, but they can be highly venomous.

References

• Spiders of Australia
• Spider Identification- Australia
• AustralianFauna.com

Resources

• Australian Museum