Spider IdentifierAustralia
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Use Spider Identifier to identify spiders in Australia by photo clues, location, size, colour, web type and where the spider was found. Compare photos, danger level, first aid notes, web clues and what to check next before choosing a likely match.

Bitten or unwell? Call 000. Poisons advice: 13 11 26.

4-step spider ID

Spider Identifier

Compare Australian spiders by location, size, markings and where they were found.

01 Location02 Size03 Markings04 Where found
Start identification
Garden orb-weaver field guide specimen
Field specimen 01Garden orb-weaverWeb clue · nocturnal orb web

Start here

Answer the clues, then compare likely matches.

Use state, size, markings and hiding place to narrow the guide before opening a full spider profile.

Start spider ID

Spider ID tool

Spider Identifier

Step 1 of 4
Before you answer

If it is safe, note the spider’s size, markings, web or hiding place, and where it was found. Do not touch or move it for a better look.

Where are you?
How big was it?

Choose the closest match. It does not need to be perfect, and legs can make a spider look much larger.

What colours or marks stood out?

Choose all that fit. If you are unsure, choose Not sure.

Where did you find it?

Choose all that fit. If you are unsure, choose Not sure.

AUA growing Australian field guide

Licensed specimen photography, plain identification clues and cautious safety guidance. Suggestions and corrections are reviewed at team@spideridentifier.com.au.

Safety shortlist

Spiders to treat with extra caution

If one of these looks possible and a bite has happened, do not wait for perfect identification. Call 000 for severe symptoms or 13 11 26 for poisons advice.

sydney funnel web spider spider photoMedical emergency potentialSydney funnel-web spiderGlossy, robust, dark NSW spider associated with silk-lined burrows around the Sydney region and nearby eastern NSW.australian funnel web spiders spider photoMedical emergency potentialAustralian funnel-web spidersA group of dark, mygalomorph spiders from eastern Australia, often linked with silk-lined retreats and burrows.mouse spider spider photoMedically significantMouse spiderStocky ground spider; males may have a red head or pale patch depending on species, and can be confused with funnel-webs.redback spider spider photoMedically significantRedback spiderSmall black spider, usually female, with a red stripe or hourglass marking and a messy web in dry sheltered places.

Field guide

Browse common Australian spiders

Start with a familiar shape, then open the full profile to compare size, markings, location and web clues.

huntsman spider spider photoUsually low riskHuntsman spiderLarge, flat, long-legged spider often seen on walls, ceilings, tree bark and inside cars.white tailed spider spider photoPainful but usually not life-threateningWhite-tailed spiderDark, cigar-shaped wandering spider with a pale spot at the tip of the abdomen, often seen indoors at night.wolf spider spider photoPainful but usually not life-threateningWolf spiderFast ground-running hunter, often mottled brown or grey, sometimes carrying an egg sac or spiderlings.garden orb weaver spider photoUsually low riskGarden orb-weaverRound-bodied spider that builds classic circular orb webs in gardens, especially at night.golden orb weaver spider photoUsually low riskGolden orb-weaverLarge web-building spider with golden silk and long legs, often in warm Australian gardens and bushland.black house spider spider photoUsually low riskBlack house spiderDark, sturdy house spider that builds messy lace-like webs around windows, walls, fences and crevices.

Questions people ask

Spider identifier Australia FAQ

How does the spider identifier work?

The identifier asks four simple questions: where you are in Australia, how big the spider looked, what colours or markings stood out, and where you found it. It then compares those clues with Australian spider profiles and shows likely matches.

Can this identify a spider by picture?

The site includes a limited photo clue beta that can scan a compressed image to narrow likely matches, but it does not confirm a species or diagnose a bite. A picture is still most useful when you also answer the location, size, colour and web or hiding-place questions.

What should I do first if I found a spider in my house?

Keep a safe distance, do not handle the spider, and note where it was found. If nobody has been bitten, use the identifier to compare likely matches. If someone has been bitten or feels unwell, prioritise medical or poisons advice.

When should I call 13 11 26 or 000?

Call 000 for severe symptoms, breathing trouble, collapse, or suspected funnel-web or mouse spider bite. Call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 for poisons advice from anywhere in Australia.

Photography credits