Hawaiian Cave Spider vs New Zealand Katipo Spider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hawaiian Cave Spider | New Zealand Katipo Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Adelocosa anops | Latrodectus katipo |
| Order | Araneae | Araneae |
| Family | Lycosidae | Theridiidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm body length | 6-10 mm body |
| Habitat | Caves | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Hawaii | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| Conservation | Endangered | Endangered |
Hawaiian Cave Spider
A completely eyeless wolf spider found only in lava tube caves on Kauai. It is the first known blind wolf spider ever discovered.
Did You Know?
It navigates in total darkness using vibration-sensing hairs on its legs instead of eyes.
New Zealand Katipo Spider
New Zealand's most venomous spider, found only on coastal sand dunes. Although an arachnid, it is one of New Zealand's most iconic invertebrates. The name katipo means night stinger in Maori. It is now critically rare due to habitat loss.
Did You Know?
Despite being closely related to the black widow and redback spiders, no human deaths from katipo bites have been recorded in New Zealand.