New Zealand Katipo Spider vs Hawaiian Cave Spider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Katipo Spider | Hawaiian Cave Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Latrodectus katipo | Adelocosa anops |
| Order | Araneae | Araneae |
| Family | Theridiidae | Lycosidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm body | 15-20 mm body length |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Caves |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Hawaii |
| Conservation | Endangered | Endangered |
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.
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.