Missulena occatoria
Red-Headed Mouse Spider Identification in Australia
Stocky mouse spider where males may show a reddish head or jaws, often found wandering on open ground.
Medically significantRed-headed mouse spiders are often noticed because of the bold red and dark contrast on wandering males. The red head or jaws are a helpful clue only when they occur with a stocky dark body and a ground-wandering or burrow-associated setting; colour can be missing in females, juveniles or poorly lit photos. Because the overall shape can overlap with funnel-web relatives, use the red contrast to narrow the comparison rather than to handle or test the spider. Treat a suspected bite as urgent and use the medical guidance on this page rather than waiting for a species-level identification.
Quick identification
- Stocky body
- Male may have reddish head or jaws
- Ground wandering behaviour
- Can be mistaken for funnel-web relatives
What to check next
Check for a stocky ground spider with red head or jaws, especially after rain or when males wander.
When to seek medical help
Seek urgent medical advice for a suspected bite, especially with systemic symptoms.
Where it is usually seen
Open forest, gardens, shrubland, burrows and open ground across much of mainland Australia.