New Zealand Katipo Spider vs East African Snouted Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Katipo Spider | East African Snouted Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Latrodectus katipo | Trinervitermes bettonianus |
| Order | Araneae | Blattodea |
| Family | Theridiidae | Termitidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm body | 4-5 mm |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
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.
East African Snouted Termite
A grass-feeding nasute termite common in East African grasslands and savannas, building small to medium earthen mounds. Colonies are relatively small with a few tens of thousands of individuals. The species plays an important role in grass decomposition.
Did You Know?
This species preferentially harvests certain grass species, effectively acting as a selective grazer that can influence the composition of grassland plant communities.