New Zealand Katipo Spider vs Seychelles Palm Spider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Katipo Spider | Seychelles Palm Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Latrodectus katipo | Nephila inaurata |
| Order | Araneae | Araneae |
| Family | Theridiidae | Nephilidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm body | 30-40 mm body; 120 mm leg span |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Seychelles, Indian Ocean Islands |
| Conservation | Endangered | Not Evaluated |
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.
Seychelles Palm Spider
A large golden orb-weaver spider found in the Seychelles with strong yellow silk. Females can have a leg span exceeding 12 cm.
Did You Know?
Its golden silk is so strong that local people have used it to make fishing lures.