Spiders in Tasmania

Tasmania has its fair share of spiders, the most dangerous being the redback and Lake Fenton trapdoor spiders, whose bites are quite deadly. While certain species of spiders like the mouse spiders are almost wholly absent here, there are several species endemic to this state. These include the Tasmanian cave spider, Plomley’s trapdoor spider, and the Tasmanian red and black spider.

Recently, a young boy named Murphy Widdowson discovered a new species of wolf spider. The spider’s scientific name, Artoriopsis murphyi, was coined in his honor.

Common Spiders: Black House Spider, Garden Wolf Spider

Biggest Spider: Tasmanian Cave Spider

Most Dangerous Spiders: Redback Spider, Lake Fenton Trapdoor Spider

Most Venomous

Comb-Footed Spiders

• Redback Spider (Latrodectus hasselti)

Huntsman Spiders

• Flat Huntsman Spider (Delena cancerides)

Australian Funnel-web Spiders

• Lake Fenton Trapdoor Spider (Plesiothele fentoni)

Wolf Spiders

• Garden Wolf Spider (Tasmanicosa godeffroyi)
• Grey Wolf Spider (Portacosa cinerea)

White‐Tailed Spiders

• White-tailed Spider (Lampona cylindrata)

House Spiders

• Black House Spider (Badumna insignis)

Less Venomous

Huntsman Spiders

• Badge Huntsman Spider (Neosparassus diana)

Red and Black Spiders

• Tasmanian Red and Black Spider (Novodamus nodatus)

Large Clawed Spiders

• Tasmanian Cave Spider (Hickmania troglodytes)

Tree Trapdoor Spiders

• Plomley’s Trapdoor Spider (Migas plomleyi)

Jumping Spiders

• Maratus proszynskii