Seychelles Palm Spider vs New Zealand Katipo Spider
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Seychelles Palm Spider | New Zealand Katipo Spider |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nephila inaurata | Latrodectus katipo |
| Order | Araneae | Araneae |
| Family | Nephilidae | Theridiidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm body; 120 mm leg span | 6-10 mm body |
| Habitat | Underground | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Seychelles, Indian Ocean Islands | Oceania (New Zealand) |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Endangered |
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.
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.