Australian spider guide
Australian spiders
Browse 162 spider identification pages, including dangerous Australian spiders, common house spiders, garden spiders, web builders and lookalikes.
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Spider guide
Funnel-web and other urgent checks
Start here when the spider is dark, robust, ground-associated or a bite has occurred.
Medical emergency potentialSydney funnel-web spiderGlossy, robust, dark NSW spider associated with silk-lined burrows around the Sydney region and nearby eastern NSW.
Medical emergency potentialAustralian funnel-web spidersA group of dark, mygalomorph spiders from eastern Australia, often linked with silk-lined retreats and burrows.
Medical emergency potentialVictorian funnel-web spiderDark Victorian funnel-web spider from silk-lined burrows, with trip-line silk and a defensive rearing posture when threatened.
Medical emergency potentialBlue Mountains funnel-web spiderDark funnel-web spider from the Blue Mountains region, associated with moist retreats and silk-lined burrows.
Medical emergency potentialNorthern tree funnel-web spiderLarge tree-associated funnel-web from eastern Australia, linked with retreats in trunks, logs and forest habitat.
Medical emergency potentialSouthern tree funnel-web spiderTree-dwelling funnel-web from eastern NSW, often associated with timber, hollows and moist forest retreats.
Medical emergency potentialDarling Downs funnel-web spiderQueensland funnel-web spider associated with the Darling Downs and nearby regions, often dark and burrow-linked.
Medical emergency potentialPort Macquarie funnel-web spiderMedically important funnel-web from the NSW mid-north coast region, with dark robust funnel-web features.Medical emergency potentialNewcastle funnel-web spiderVery large dark funnel-web from the Newcastle and Hunter region, treated with the same caution as other medically important funnel-webs.Medical emergency potentialIllawarra funnel-web spiderDark mygalomorph funnel-web from the Illawarra region, usually associated with damp retreats, burrows, logs and sheltered ground habitat.Medical emergency potentialBorder Ranges funnel-web spiderRobust tree or ground retreat funnel-web from the NSW-Queensland border ranges and nearby wet forest country.Medical emergency potentialSouthern Sydney funnel-web spiderGlossy dark funnel-web from southern Sydney and nearby NSW, associated with moist silk-lined burrows and treated as an emergency bite risk.
Medical emergency potentialNorthern mouse spiderRobust northern Australian mouse spider; males may show a broad yellowish-cream abdominal patch and can be confused with funnel-webs.Medical emergency potentialTasmanian funnel-web spiderDark robust Tasmanian funnel-web associated with moist sheltered ground and burrows, requiring emergency treatment after any suspected bite.Medical emergency potentialAdelaide funnel-web spiderSouth Australian funnel-web from the Gulf-region species group, unusual among funnel-webs for constructing a trapdoor burrow.Medical emergency potentialNadgee funnel-web spiderRarely recorded funnel-web described from the far south coast of NSW; external appearance alone is not enough for a confident identification.Spider guide
Medically significant spiders
These spiders deserve extra caution, especially if a bite is suspected or symptoms are developing.
Medically significantRedback spiderSmall black spider, usually female, with a red stripe or hourglass marking and a messy web in dry sheltered places.Medically significantMouse spiderStocky ground spider; males may have a red head or pale patch depending on species, and can be confused with funnel-webs.
Medically significantRed-headed mouse spiderStocky mouse spider where males may show a reddish head or jaws, often found wandering on open ground.
Medically significantEastern mouse spiderDark stocky mouse spider from eastern Australia, usually ground-associated and sometimes confused with funnel-webs.Medically significantBrown widow spiderIntroduced widow spider with a rounded brown patterned body and messy sheltered web, sometimes confused with redbacks.Spider guide
Common Australian spiders
Compare common spiders seen around homes, gardens, sheds, walls, bark, webs and water.
Painful 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.
Usually low riskBlack house spiderDark, sturdy house spider that builds messy lace-like webs around windows, walls, fences and crevices.
Usually low riskBrown house spider / cupboard spiderSmall brown comb-footed spider in messy indoor webs, sometimes confused with redbacks or false widows.
Usually low riskHuntsman spiderLarge, flat, long-legged spider often seen on walls, ceilings, tree bark and inside cars.
Painful but usually not life-threateningBadge huntsman spiderHuntsman-type spider with more distinct underside markings and a defensive colour display.
Painful but usually not life-threateningWolf spiderFast ground-running hunter, often mottled brown or grey, sometimes carrying an egg sac or spiderlings.
Painful but usually not life-threateningTrapdoor spiderStocky ground spider associated with burrows, often mistaken for funnel-webs when wandering.Painful but usually not life-threateningSydney brown trapdoor spiderBrown NSW trapdoor spider with a dusty-looking body, pale abdominal bars and open burrows, often confused with funnel-webs.
Painful but usually not life-threateningMelbourne trapdoor spiderBrown Victorian ground spider with a ribbed-looking abdomen, silk-lined soil burrow and frequent funnel-web confusion.
Usually low riskGarden orb-weaverRound-bodied spider that builds classic circular orb webs in gardens, especially at night.
Usually low riskGolden orb-weaverLarge web-building spider with golden silk and long legs, often in warm Australian gardens and bushland.
Usually low riskHumped golden orb-weaving spiderLarge eastern Australian golden orb-weaver with a silvery to plum body, yellow-banded legs and a strong golden orb web.
Usually low riskSt Andrew’s cross spiderColourful orb-weaver often sitting in an X shape in a web with zig-zag silk bands.
Usually low riskNet-casting spiderLong-legged spider with large eyes that holds a small net of silk to catch prey at night.
Usually low riskRufous net-casting spiderSlender, long-legged eastern Australian net-casting spider with huge forward-facing eyes and a small handheld silk net used at night.
Usually low riskJumping spiderTiny to small active hunter with large front eyes and jerky jumping movement.
Usually low riskDaddy-long-legs spiderVery thin-legged indoor spider in loose corner webs, common in houses and garages.
Painful but usually not life-threateningYellow sac spiderPale yellow or straw-coloured wandering spider that makes small silk retreats.
Usually low riskFlower spider / crab spiderSmall spider with crab-like sideways legs, often waiting on flowers or foliage.
Usually low riskBird-dropping spiderCamouflaged orb-weaver relative that resembles a bird dropping when curled up.
Usually low riskSpiny spiderSmall orb-weaver with a hard, spiny, brightly patterned abdomen in a small web.
Usually low riskLong-jawed orb-weaverSlender long-legged orb-weaver often near water or vegetation, with an elongated body.
Painful but usually not life-threateningWishbone spiderDark burrow-associated mygalomorph often mistaken for a funnel-web or trapdoor spider.
Painful but usually not life-threateningCurtain-web spiderDark mygalomorph spider associated with sheet-like or curtain-like silk retreats in sheltered places.
Painful but usually not life-threateningBrush-footed trapdoor spiderSturdy trapdoor-type spider linked with silk-lined burrows and often confused with other dark ground spiders.
Usually low riskTwo-tailed spiderFlat bark-running spider with very long spinnerets that can look like two tails.
Usually low riskGrey house spiderGrey to brown house spider in messy retreat webs around windows, fences, walls and bark.
Usually low riskSocial huntsman spiderFlattened huntsman spider often found beneath bark or timber, sometimes in groups.
Usually low riskLichen huntsman spiderCamouflaged huntsman with mottled lichen-like patterning, usually seen on tree trunks or bark.
Usually low riskGreen huntsman spiderGreen or yellow-green huntsman-type spider often associated with foliage and warm garden habitat.
Usually low riskNursery web spiderLong-legged hunting spider where females may guard a silk nursery for spiderlings.
Usually low riskFishing spiderLarge long-legged spider often found near water, capable of moving across the water surface.
Usually low riskClever fishing spiderMedium to large Australian fishing spider found around creeks, streams, freshwater lakes and waterside vegetation.
Usually low riskGreen jumping spiderSmall bright green jumping spider with large front eyes and active daytime hunting behaviour.
Usually low riskSea-green northern jumperTiny metallic green, turquoise, black and white jumping spider from warm Queensland gardens, rainforest edges and leafy vegetation.
Usually low riskGarden jumping spiderSmall active jumping spider, usually brown, cream or patterned, often seen on garden plants, walls, fences and windows.
Usually low riskSparkling northern jumping spiderSmall iridescent jumping spider from northern Australia, often blue, silver, black or bronze, seen on plants and sunny walls.
Usually low riskPeacock spiderTiny colourful jumping spider, with males known for bright display patterns and courtship dances.
Usually low riskCoastal peacock spiderTiny Western Australian peacock spider from coastal dune vegetation, with males showing orange fan fringes during display.
Usually low riskAnt-mimic spiderSmall spider that resembles an ant, often with a narrow body and quick ant-like movement.
Usually low riskLynx spiderSpiny-legged active hunter often found on leaves, flowers and shrubs in gardens.
Usually low riskElegant lynx spiderSlender, spiny-legged lynx spider from eastern Australian vegetation, often hunting on grass, shrubs and garden foliage.
Usually low riskWrap-around spiderCamouflaged orb-weaver that flattens around twigs or branches during the day.
Usually low riskLeaf-curling spiderOrb-weaver that hides in a curled leaf suspended in its web.
Usually low riskMagnificent spiderOdd-looking bolas spider with a lumpy colourful body, often camouflaged on foliage during the day.
Usually low riskJewel spiderSmall hard-bodied orb-weaver with bright jewel-like colours and spiny projections.
Usually low riskTent-web spiderWeb-building spider with a tent-like or dome-like web rather than a simple flat orb.
Usually low riskDome tent-web spiderLarge tent-web spider that builds a strong dome or bowl-shaped web in warm Australian gardens, parks and open vegetation.
Usually low riskSilver orb-weaverSlender orb-weaver with silvery body markings, often found in small webs among vegetation.
Usually low riskBolas spiderUnusual orb-weaver relative that catches moths with a sticky silk line rather than a classic web.
Usually low riskSwift ground spiderFast-running ground spider, usually dark or brown, often found under objects or crossing floors.
Usually low riskOrange-legged swift spiderFast black-and-white Australian ground hunter with yellow to orange front legs, often seen sprinting across floors, logs, handrails or leaf litter.
Usually low riskRed and black spiderRed-bodied and black-abdomen spider often found under bark, logs or in leaf litter.
Painful but usually not life-threateningAustralian tarantula / whistling spiderLarge hairy mygalomorph spider from warmer parts of Australia, usually associated with deep burrows and heavy legs.
Usually low riskScorpion-tailed spiderOrb-weaving spider with a distinctive tail-like abdomen, usually seen sitting in a web in gardens or shrubs.
Usually low riskMirror spiderTiny decorative comb-footed spider with reflective silver patches, often found on leaves in humid gardens.
Usually low riskTriangular spiderSmall crab-like spider with a triangular body shape, often resting on leaves or flowers.
Usually low riskSpitting spiderSmall slow-moving spider with a domed body and long thin legs, sometimes found indoors.
Usually low riskTube-dwelling spiderSlender spider that lives in a silk tube or crevice retreat, with radiating signal threads around the entrance.
Usually low riskSlater-eating spider / woodlouse hunterReddish spider with long forward-pointing jaws and a pale grey to yellow-brown abdomen, often found in damp sheltered places.
Usually low riskFlattened bark spiderVery flat brown to grey spider adapted for squeezing under loose bark, rocks and narrow crevices.
Usually low riskCommon house spiderSmall dull brown comb-footed spider that builds tangled webs in quiet corners, sheds, bathrooms and other sheltered indoor places.
Usually low riskWhite porch spiderPale comb-footed spider with very long front legs, often found in tangled webs under eaves, porches and sheltered house edges.
Usually low riskDiamond comb-footed spiderTiny patterned comb-footed spider in small messy webs on plants, garden edges and sheltered built structures.
Usually low riskTwo-spined spiderSmall colourful orb-weaver with two pale spines on the adult female abdomen, often hiding under leaves by day and web-building at night.
Usually low riskHeroic orb-weaver / lichen spiderChunky patterned orb-weaver with lichen-like camouflage, often found on walls, fences, bark, shrubs or near a night web.
Usually low riskEnamelled spider / Bradley’s grass orb-weaverSmall colourful orb-weaver with glossy enamel-like markings, often found in shrubs, grass, garden foliage and low orb webs.
Usually low riskWhite flower spider / spectacular crab spiderSmall white, cream or yellow crab spider that waits on flowers with front legs held out to ambush visiting insects.
Usually low riskPink flower spider / green crab spiderSmall green, yellow or pinkish crab spider that waits on flowers and foliage with front legs held sideways.
Usually low riskThree-lobed spiderSmall orb-weaver with an unusual lobed abdomen, often sitting in a web with debris or silk decoration.
Usually low riskNinja-star ceiling spiderSmall grey-brown indoor spider often seen on ceilings or walls, with flat star-like egg sacs in a fine web.
Usually low riskRed house spiderSmall reddish-brown comb-footed spider found in messy indoor or sheltered webs, often confused with young redbacks or cupboard spiders.
Usually low riskWall spider / baseboard spiderVery tiny pale-grey wall spider that makes a small flat web on walls, ceilings, skirting boards or bathroom corners.
Usually low riskFringed jumping spiderSmall patterned jumping spider from tropical northern Australia, often found around foliage or other spiders' webs.
Usually low riskGiant bark jumping spiderCompact grey-brown jumping spider often seen on bark, walls, fences or garden surfaces, with large forward-facing eyes.
Usually low riskSuperb jumping spiderLarge, sturdy Australian jumping spider with a robust body, strong front legs and bold stop-start hunting movements on bark, walls or foliage.
Usually low riskTasmanian cave spiderLarge long-legged Tasmanian spider found in caves and other cool, damp dark retreats, often with a broad sheet web.
Usually low riskBanded garden spiderStriped orb-weaver found in gardens and low vegetation, often sitting head-down in a round web with banded legs.
Usually low riskSombrero spider / sheetweb spiderBrown, long-legged sheetweb spider from eastern and southern Australia, best recognised by its broad sheet web with a raised funnel-like centre.
Usually low riskRed-tipped square-ended crab spiderSmall green crab spider found on Australian foliage, especially Dianella, with long front legs and red-tipped abdominal humps.
Usually low riskTrapezoid crab spider / trapezium crab spiderSmall square-ended crab spider found on foliage, bark and garden plants, with long front legs and a trapezoid body outline.
Painful but usually not life-threateningBanded huntsman spiderLarge grey-brown huntsman from eastern Australia, often recognised by banded legs, a flat body and wall, bark or ceiling habitat.
Usually low riskTropical St Andrew’s cross spiderLarge colourful orb-weaver that sits in an X shape on a round web, especially in warm eastern Australian gardens and bushland.
Usually low riskPainted cross spiderColourful northern Australian orb-weaver with paired legs, yellow-white abdominal patterning and a white silk stabilimentum in the web.
Usually low riskCommon peacock spiderTiny southern Australian jumping spider, famous for colourful male courtship displays and active leaf-litter hunting.
Usually low riskBanksia peacock spiderTiny south-west Western Australian jumping spider, best known for the colourful male fan display and banksia or jarrah woodland habitat.
Usually low riskBronze Aussie jumping spiderAgile bronze-brown jumping spider from eastern Australian foliage and gardens, often recognised by its long front legs and watchful stance.
Usually low riskGolden-thighed brushed jumping spiderSmall eastern Australian jumping spider with golden-orange front-leg brushes, white side markings and active foliage or wall-hunting behaviour.
Usually low riskWhite-banded house jumping spiderSmall brown and grey house-hopper jumping spider, often seen on walls, fences, bark, foliage and around Australian homes.
Usually low riskLittle striped wolf spiderBlack-brown Australian wolf spider with cream striping, ground-running hunting behaviour and a simple burrow entrance.
Painful but usually not life-threateningGarden wolf spiderCommon ground-running wolf spider from southern Australian gardens, lawns and bush edges, sometimes recognised by a Union Jack-style abdominal pattern.
Usually low riskKnobbly crab spiderCamouflaged Australian crab spider with a knobbly bark-like body, often sitting still on bark, leaves or sheltered garden surfaces.
Usually low riskDewdrop spiderTiny silver-backed comb-footed spider that lives around orb-weaver webs and steals small prey from the host web.
Usually low riskSooty orb-weaverSmall brown to dark Australian orb-weaver with sooty patterning, a round night web and a garden or shrubland habitat clue.
Usually low riskKnobbled garden orb-weaverHeavy-bodied Australian garden orb-weaver with two rear abdominal bumps, banded legs and a round night web in shrubs or garden edges.
Usually low riskNemo peacock spiderTiny South Australian peacock spider with a bright orange-and-white face, wetland habitat clue and jumping-spider movement.
Usually low riskHackled orb-weaverSmall humped Australian hackled orb-weaver often found in communal, messy-looking webs around foliage, shrubs and sheltered house edges.
Usually low riskWrapped-up twig spiderCamouflaged Australian orb-weaver that tucks its legs tight by day to look like a twig, bark knob or small tree-stump fragment.
Usually low riskTasmanian peacock spiderTiny Australian peacock jumping spider with colourful male markings, large forward-facing eyes and a Tasmania or Victoria location clue.Painful but usually not life-threateningBlack wishbone spiderDark burrowing mygalomorph spider with a Y-shaped wishbone burrow clue, often mistaken for funnel-webs or trapdoor spiders.Painful but usually not life-threateningNorthern wishbone spiderNorthern Australian wishbone-type spider from silk-lined burrows, usually noticed when males wander across paths, patios or verandahs.Usually low riskGrey huntsman spiderLarge flat grey-brown huntsman-type spider often seen on walls, ceilings, fences, sheds and tree trunks.Usually low riskBrown huntsman spiderCommon brown huntsman-type spider with a broad flat body, sideways legs and fast wall-running behaviour inside or around homes.Painful but usually not life-threateningProwling spiderFast wandering ground or foliage hunter, often brown to orange-brown and confused with wolf spiders or sac spiders.Usually low riskSpotted ground spiderSmall to medium ground-running spider with dark body and pale or orange spots, often seen in leaf litter, gardens and paths.Usually low riskAnt-eating spiderSmall ground spider often associated with ants, with quick stop-start movement and a compact dark or patterned body.Usually low riskWhip spiderExtremely slender comb-footed spider with a long stick-like body, often found in fine webs around shrubs and garden edges.Usually low riskSignal-line spiderSmall orb-weaver that sits near a retreat connected to the web by a signal line, often in shrubs or garden vegetation.Usually low riskBird-lime spiderOddly shaped orb-weaver relative with bird-dropping camouflage, known for dangling sticky silk lines at night instead of a full orb web.Usually low riskEastern peacock spiderTiny colourful jumping spider from eastern Australia, with large forward-facing eyes and male display markings.Usually low riskBlue-faced peacock spiderTiny Western Australian peacock spider with a striking blue-faced male display and jumping-spider movement.Usually low riskFlying peacock spiderTiny eastern Australian peacock spider whose male opens a red, blue and black, white-fringed abdominal fan during courtship.Usually low riskJovial jumping spiderSmall Australian jumping spider recognised taxonomically as Apricia jovialis, usually encountered as an alert brown or patterned hunter on bark and vegetation.Usually low riskPale eastern jumping spiderSmall pale or patterned jumping spider from wetter eastern and south-eastern Australia, associated with vegetation and leaf litter rather than a capture web.Usually low riskGolden-tail jumperSmall eastern Australian jumping spider formally known as Astia hariola, with a compact alert build and golden or warm-toned rear markings in clearer specimens.Usually low riskSevere jumping spiderCompact Australian Clynotis jumping spider with a dark or brown patterned body, prominent front eyes and active bark or foliage hunting behaviour.Usually low riskSquat bark jumping spiderTiny broad-bodied Australian jumping spider often photographed on bark or vegetation, with a compact squat outline and large forward-facing eyes.Usually low riskRainbow peacock spiderTiny colourful peacock spider whose accepted name is Maratus rainbowi and whose older synonym Maratus splendens still appears in searches and records.Usually low riskBlue-dot peacock spiderTiny south-eastern Australian peacock spider first described as Saratus hesperus, with a two-tone blue male abdomen and central yellow spot.Usually low riskOwl peacock spiderTiny southern Australian peacock spider named for an owl-like pattern on the colourful male abdominal fan.Usually low riskSlender crab spiderThin, twig-like crab spider that holds its front legs out and waits on stems, leaves or flowers for passing insects.Usually low riskGreen crab spiderSmall green ambush spider with sideways crab-like front legs, often found on leaves, flowers and garden plants.Usually low riskFlat rock spiderVery flattened ground spider that hides under rocks, bark or slabs and can be mistaken for a tiny huntsman or flattened bark spider.Usually low riskLong-spinneret ground spiderFast dark ground spider with noticeable rear spinnerets, usually found under debris, on floors, paths or dry garden edges.Usually low riskEdible golden orb-weaverLarge golden-orb spider of inland and southern Australia, with a long silvery to plum abdomen, banded dark legs and a strong golden web.Usually low riskPanther hackled orb-weaverTiny mottled hackled orb-weaver with a humped outline, found in fine dry-silk webs under verandahs, rock overhangs and sheltered foliage.Usually low riskAustralian Union-Jack wolf spiderRobust patterned Australian wolf spider from the Tasmanicosa group, usually seen running on the ground or at a burrow entrance at night.Usually low riskGrey wolf spiderGrey-brown burrowing wolf spider whose retreat can have a circular trapdoor, sometimes left open while the spider is out hunting.Usually low riskPerth forest wolf spiderSmall south-west Western Australian wolf spider common in moist low vegetation, suburban parks, reserves and gardens around Perth.Usually local pain riskSpotted trapdoor spiderStocky southern Australian trapdoor spider with a strongly arched carapace and pale hairless abdominal spots, usually linked with a concealed soil burrow.Usually local pain riskAdelaide trapdoor spiderSouth Australian spotted trapdoor spider from a camouflaged soil burrow, sometimes noticed when a male wanders in humid weather.Not known as medically significantIntertidal marine spiderUnusual coastal spider that lives among intertidal rocks and reefs, sealing itself inside a silk air chamber when the tide covers its retreat.Usually low riskFoliage-webbing social spiderSmall Australian desid that can build conspicuous communal-looking sheets and tangles binding leaves and twigs together.Usually low riskGolden huntsman spiderVery large golden-brown huntsman from eastern Queensland, best recognised by exceptional size, warm colour and tree-trunk habitat.Usually low riskJungle huntsman spiderMottled brown Queensland huntsman that hunts on tree trunks and foliage and may wander onto walls or into homes.Usually low riskVictorian huntsman spiderSouthern Australian huntsman associated with bark and sheltered crevices, with the flat body and sideways legs typical of huntsmans.Usually low riskRunning crab spiderSmall, fast, flat-bodied hunter on foliage, bark or walls that resembles a crab spider but has more evenly sized legs and a running habit.Usually low riskAustralian flattie spiderExtremely flattened, quick wall-and-bark hunter in the Australian genus Karaops, often mistaken for a small huntsman.Usually low riskPill flower spiderSmall southern Australian crab spider with an unusually rounded or lozenge-shaped abdomen, found on foliage in woodland and gardens.Usually local pain riskCape tangle-web spiderSmall dark brown comb-footed spider found in Australian buildings and sheltered tangles, sometimes confused with a young or unmarked redback.Usually low riskAnt-eating comb-footed spiderTiny Australian comb-footed spider that specialises in ants, throwing silk over an ant before biting it rather than relying on a large capture web.Australian spider questions
Australian spider guide FAQ
What spiders are listed in this Australian spider guide?
This guide includes 162 spider pages covering dangerous spiders, common house spiders, garden spiders, orb-weavers, huntsman-type spiders, ground hunters, web builders and Australian lookalikes.
Which Australian spiders should I check first?
Check funnel-web spiders, mouse spiders and redbacks first when a bite has occurred, symptoms are developing, or the spider matches a dark robust burrow spider or a black spider with red markings.
How should I use the spider list?
Use the list to compare photos, danger level, size, web type, habitat and lookalikes. If you are unsure, start with the homepage identifier so the likely matches are ranked from your clues.
Can I browse spiders by state?
Yes. Use the state spider guides for NSW, QLD, VIC, TAS, WA, SA, NT and ACT to compare spiders more likely in your part of Australia.
Why do some spiders look similar?
Colour alone can be misleading. Brown, black or grey spiders may overlap in photos, so size, body shape, web, location and behaviour should be compared together.