Identify spiders in Tasmania
Tasmania spider identification guide
Identify spiders in Tasmania by comparing likely local spiders, including dangerous possibilities, common house spiders, garden spiders, web builders and ground hunters.
TAS spider guide
Dangerous or medically significant spiders to check first
These Tasmania spider possibilities deserve extra caution, especially if a bite has occurred or symptoms are developing.
Medical emergency potentialAustralian funnel-web spidersA group of dark, mygalomorph spiders from eastern Australia, often linked with silk-lined retreats and burrows.
Medically significantRedback spiderSmall black spider, usually female, with a red stripe or hourglass marking and a messy web in dry sheltered places.TAS spider guide
Common spiders found in Tasmania
Compare common Tasmania spiders by appearance, web type, size and where they are usually found.
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-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 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.
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 riskLong-jawed orb-weaverSlender long-legged orb-weaver often near water or vegetation, with an elongated body.
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 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 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 riskPeacock spiderTiny colourful jumping spider, with males known for bright display patterns and courtship dances.
Usually low riskLeaf-curling spiderOrb-weaver that hides in a curled leaf suspended in its web.
Usually low riskSwift ground spiderFast-running ground spider, usually dark or brown, often found under objects or crossing floors.
Usually low riskRed and black spiderRed-bodied and black-abdomen spider often found under bark, logs or in leaf litter.
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 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.TAS spider questions
Tasmania spider identification FAQ
How do I identify a spider in Tasmania?
Start with the clues you can safely see: suburb or region in Tasmania, 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 Tasmania?
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 Tasmania 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 Tasmania spider by web?
Yes, web type can help narrow the match. In Tasmania, 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 Tasmania?
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 Tasmania?
Brown recluse is a common search term, but most brown spiders seen in Tasmania 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.