There are an estimated 10,000 species of Australian spiders, with only 3600 identified and new species being discovered annually. For example, a new species of blue jumping spider was discovered in New South Wales in 2020.
Australia is known for its highly venomous and deadly spiders, including the Sydney funnel-web spider and the redback spider. The venom from these spiders is quite potent and is dangerous to most humans. However, these species are not representative of all the spiders found in Australia, with no deaths caused by spider bites since 1979.
Common Spiders in Australia
Biggest Spiders in Australia
Coastal whistling spider | Australian common whistling spider | — |
Most Venomous Spiders
Comb-Footed Spiders
Widow (Latrodectus) - Meet the Latrodectus spiders, often known as true widows! They're part of the cobweb spider family. By July 2017, there were 31 types of them, living everywhere except Antarctica.… Continue Reading > Australian Funnel-web Spiders
- Lake Fenton Trapdoor Spider (Plesiothele fentoni)
House Spiders
Badumna - Badumna spiders are special critters found in places like Australia, Asia, and America. They're known as intertidal spiders and are super important in the places they live, even if they're not always in the spotlight.… Continue Reading > Mouse Spiders
Mouse (Missulena) - Mouse spiders are part of the big Actinopodidae spider family. Some people thought they dug burrows like mice, which is how they got their name. But that's not really true.… Continue Reading > Australian Tarantulas
- Queensland Whistling Tarantula(Selenocosmia crassipes)
- Australian Common Whistling Spider (Selenocosmia stirlingi)
- Australian Featherleg Spider (Selenotypus plumipes)
Huntsman Spiders
- Sydney Huntsman Spider (Holconia immanis)
- Lichen Huntsman Spider (Pandercetes gracilis)
Orb-weaver Spiders
Eriophora - The Eriophora genus, part of the orb-weaver family, boasts ten unique species. Found across America, Australia, and Africa, these spiders are fascinating creatures.… Continue Reading > Spiny Trapdoor Spiders
- Adelaide Trapdoor Spider (Blakistonia aurea)
- Shieldbacked Trapdoor Spider (Idiosoma nigrum)
- Sydney Brown Trapdoor Spider (Misgolas rapax)
- Tube Spider (Misgolas robertsi)
White‐Tailed Spiders
Lampona - Picture a spider with a special white tip on its back. That's the Lampona! There are 57 different types in the Lamponidae family. Some, like the Lampona cylindrata and Lampona murina, have this unique white-tailed look.… Continue Reading > Wolf Spiders
- Garden Wolf Spider (Tasmanicosa godeffroyi)
- Little Striped Wolf Spider (Venatrix furcillata)
Least Venomous Spiders
Crab Spiders
- Milky Flower Spider (Zygometis xanthogaster)
- Australian Crab Spider (Thomisus spectabilis)
- Green Tree Ant Mimicking Spider (Amyciaea albomaculata)
- Knobbly Crab Spider (Stephanopis altifrons)
Jumping Spiders
Brush-Footed Trapdoor Spiders
- Brush Footed Spider (Seqocrypta jakara)
Comb-Footed Spiders
Steatoda - Meet the Steatoda spiders! They're part of the cobweb spider family and there are around 120 different types. Some, like the Steatoda borealis, look a lot like widow spiders.… Continue Reading > Thwaitesia - Thwaitesia spiders are found in warm tropical areas all over the world. This group has 22 different species. Here, we'll share cool facts about these spiders so you can learn more about them.… Continue Reading > Curtain-Web Spiders
- Nullarbor Cave Trapdoor Spider (Troglodiplura lowryi)
Cellar Spiders
Pholcus - Discover the fascinating world of the Pholcus genus, which is part of the Pholcidae family. With a whopping 321 spiders recorded by the World Spider Catalog in May 2016, there's so much to know about these intriguing creatures.… Continue Reading > Fishing Spiders
- Giant Water Spider (Megadolomedes australianus)
Ground Spiders
- Silvery Vagabond Spider (Anzacia gemmea)
- Flattened Bark Spider (Hemicloea rogenhoferi)
House Spiders
Long-Jawed Spiders
Phonognatha - Discover the Phonognatha, a unique genus of spiders from the South Pacific orb-weaver family. With around four species identified by April 2019, these spiders have an interesting history.… Continue Reading > Midget House Spiders
- Wall Spider (Oecobius navus)
Net-Casting Spiders
- Common Netcasting Spider (Deinopis subrufa)
Orb-weaver Spiders
- Enamelled Spider (Plebs bradleyi)
- Two-Spined Spider (Poecilopachys australasia)
- Scorpion-tailed Spider (Arachnura higginsii)
- Tear Drop Spider (Argiope protensa)
- Christmas Jewel Spider (Austracantha minax)
Platform Spiders
- Sombrero Spider (Stiphidion facetum)
Sac Spiders
- Stout Sac Spider (Clubiona robusta)
Spitting Spiders
- Common Spitting Spider (Scytodes thoracica)
Swift Spiders
- Painted Swift Spider (Nyssus coloripes)
Large Clawed Spiders
- Tasmanian Cave Spider (Hickmania troglodytes)
Two-Tailed Spiders
- Brisbane Two Tailed Spiders (Tamopsis brisbanensis)
Hackled Orb-weaver Spiders
- Humped Spider (Zosis geniculata)
Wishbone Spiders
- Black Wishbone Spider (Aname diversicolor)
- Melbourne Trapdoor Spider (Stanwellia grisea)
Woodlouse Hunter Spiders
Spiders in Australia (By Region)