New Zealand Katipo Spider vs Tundra Wolf Spider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | New Zealand Katipo Spider | Tundra Wolf Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Latrodectus katipo | Pardosa glacialis |
| Order | Araneae | Araneae |
| Family | Theridiidae | Lycosidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm body | 5-8 mm body length |
| Habitat | Deserts & Drylands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | Oceania (New Zealand) | Arctic Canada, Alaska, Greenland, Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Siberia |
| 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.
Tundra Wolf Spider
A dark, medium-sized wolf spider with cryptic brown and gray patterning. Females carry their egg sacs attached to their spinnerets. It is one of the dominant predators on the Arctic tundra ground surface.
Did You Know?
This spider basks on dark rocks to raise its body temperature, then hunts more actively because its prey are slower in the cold.