Dipluridae and related groups
Curtain-Web Spider Identification in Australia
Dark mygalomorph spider associated with sheet-like or curtain-like silk retreats in sheltered places.
Painful but usually not life-threateningCurtain-web spiders can look alarming because they are dark and robust, but the sheet-like or curtain-style retreat is often the strongest clue. Keep a possible funnel-web comparison cautious: web geometry, location and a clear view of the burrow entrance matter more than dark colour alone, and a suspected medically significant bite needs urgent advice rather than photo identification.
Quick identification
- Dark robust spider
- Sheet or curtain-like silk retreat
- Sheltered ground or bark habitat
- Can resemble trapdoor or funnel-web relatives
What to check next
Look closely at the web: a broad sheet or curtain-like retreat points away from a simple orb web.
When to seek medical help
Seek advice if symptoms are severe, spreading or the spider could be a funnel-web.
Where it is usually seen
Bark, logs, rock crevices, banks and sheltered garden or bushland retreats.