Identify spiders in Northern Territory
Northern Territory spider identification guide
Identify spiders in Northern Territory by comparing likely local spiders, including dangerous possibilities, common house spiders, garden spiders, web builders and ground hunters.
Common questions
Helpful spider ID guides
NT spider guide
Dangerous or medically significant spiders to check first
These Northern Territory spider possibilities deserve extra caution, especially if a bite has occurred 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.NT spider guide
Common spiders found in Northern Territory
Compare common Northern Territory spiders by appearance, web type, size and where they are usually found.
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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 riskBanded garden spiderStriped orb-weaver found in gardens and low vegetation, often sitting head-down in a round web with banded legs.
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.
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 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.NT spider questions
Northern Territory spider identification FAQ
How do I identify a spider in Northern Territory?
Start with the clues you can safely see: suburb or region in Northern Territory, size, body colour, leg shape, web type and where the spider was found. A clear photo helps, but location and web clues often change the likely match.
What dangerous spiders should I check first in Northern Territory?
Check funnel-web, mouse spider and redback possibilities first when the spider is dark, robust, found near a burrow or messy sheltered web, or if a bite has occurred. If symptoms are severe or a funnel-web or mouse spider bite is possible, call 000.
Can I identify a Northern Territory spider by picture?
A picture can narrow the possibilities, especially if it shows the body, legs, markings and web or hiding place. Do not handle or move a spider to get a better photo.
Can I identify a Northern Territory spider by web?
Yes, web type can help narrow the match. In Northern Territory, note whether the spider was in a messy corner web, a round orb web, a silk-lined burrow, a sheet-like web, or wandering without a web. Use that clue with size, colour and location.
What if the spider was large and flat in Northern Territory?
A large, flat spider on walls, ceilings, bark or inside cars is often compared with huntsman-type spiders. Check size, leg spread, colour and where it was resting, and compare against other large ground or wall spiders before deciding.
Are brown recluse spiders common in Northern Territory?
Brown recluse is a common search term, but most brown spiders seen in Northern Territory are more likely to be local Australian spiders. Compare brown house spiders, huntsmans, wolf spiders, trapdoor spiders and other local lookalikes.
What should I do if someone may have been bitten?
For severe symptoms, breathing trouble, collapse, or suspected funnel-web or mouse spider bite, call 000. For poisons advice in Australia call 13 11 26. This site can help compare clues, but it cannot diagnose a bite.
Reference notes
How this guide stays cautious
Spider Identifier Australia uses visible clues to suggest likely possibilities. It is not a medical diagnosis or a formal species determination.
- Australian Museum spider informationAustralian spider identification, biology and dangerous spider context.
- Australian Museum funnel-web spidersFunnel-web range, identification and bite-safety context.
- Poisons Information CentreCall 13 11 26 for poisons advice from anywhere in Australia.
- healthdirect spider bitesAustralian spider bite first aid, emergency signs and white-tail bite evidence.
- Australian Museum redback spiderRedback identification, web clues and Australian distribution.
- Australian Museum spiders in the house and gardenCommon Australian house and garden spider context.