List of Australian Spiders
Below is a partial list of Australian spiders. This is one of the less toxic common Australian spiders, the St Andrew’s Cross. She was found in Gymea Bay, a suburb in the Sutherland Shire:
There are between 2,400-3,000 described species of spiders found in Australia. These species belong to various genera.
The exact number of spider genera in Australia may vary as new species are discovered and taxonomic revisions are made.
However, it is estimated that there are approximately 380 genera of spiders in Australia. This number includes both native species and introduced species that have established populations in the country.
It’s worth noting that the classification and understanding of spider species and genera can change over time as new research and discoveries are made. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to consult the latest scientific literature or an expert in the field for the most up-to-date information on Australian spiders.
We recommend for further reading “A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia” by Robert Whyte & Greg Anderson or speak to spider expert Dr Mike Gray of the Australian Museum.
Also please visit our Spider Control Sydney page for information on low toxic spider control and the latest spider bite advice.
Spider Bite Prevention Tips
Clear children’s toys and other clutter from your home and consider getting a low toxic spider control programme from a reputable pest management firm such as ourselves.
When gardening or working around your home wear overalls or a long-sleeved shirt, gloves, hat/cap and boots.
Always inspect all of your clothing taken from your clothes line and inside your shoes if they have been left outside.
Consider use of low toxic insect repellents, such as DEET on your clothing and protective boots.
Spider Chart
Australian spiders are all classified from the Orders of Araneae & Opiliones.
Order Araneae
Family Actinopodidae
Eastern mouse spider ( Missulena bradleyi )
Redheaded mouse spider ( Missulena insignis )
Northern mouse spider ( Missulena pruinosa )
Family Agelenidae
European house spider ( Tegenaria domestica )
Family Araneidae
Tailed forest spider ( Arachnura feredayi )
Scorpion-tailed spider ( Arachnura higginsii )
Enameled spider ( Araneus bradleyi )
Small bird-dropping spider ( Archemorus curtulus )
St Andrew’s cross spider ( Argiope keyserlingi )
Tear drop spider ( Argiope protensa )
Banded orb-weaving spider ( Argiope trifasciata )
Triangular spiders ( Arkys spp. )
Christmas spiders ( Austracantha minax )
Jewel spiders ( Austracantha spp. )
Bird-dropping spider ( Celaenia excavata )
Three lobed spider ( Cyclosa trilobata )
Tent spiders ( Cyrtophora spp.)
Australian Garden Orb Weaver Spider ( Eriophora biapicata)
Garden orbweb spider (Eriophora pustulosa)
Wheelweaving orbweaving spider ( Eriophora transmarina )
Hairy imperial spider ( Ordgarius furcatus )
Magnificent spider (Ordgarius magnificus )
Bolas spiders ( Ordgarius spp. )
Two-spined spider ( Poecilopachys australasia )
Family Archaeidae
Western archaeid spider ( Austrarchaea mainae )
Family Austrochilidae
Tasmanian cave spider ( Hickmania troglodytes )
Family Barychelidae
Intertidal trapdoor spider ( Idioctis yerlata )
Brushfooted trapdoor spider ( Idiommata blackwalli )
Brush footed spider ( Seqocrypta jakara )
Family Clubionidae
Stout sac spider ( Clubiona robusta )
Family Corinnidae
Ant-mimicking spiders ( Poecilipta spp. )
Spotted ground swift spider ( Supunna picta )
Swift spiders ( Supunna spp.)
Family Deinopidae
Common netcasting spider ( Deinopis subrufa )
Family Desidae
Black house spider ( Badumna insignis )
Brown house spider ( Badumna longinqua )
Colonial spider ( Badumna socialis )
Family Dipluridae
Nullarbor cave trapdoor spider ( Troglodiplura lowryi )
Family Dysderidae
European garden spider ( Dysdera crocota )
Family Gnaphosidae
Silvery vagabond spider ( Anzacia gemmea )
Flattened bark spider ( Hemicloea rogenhoferi )
Family Hersiliidae
Two-tailed spider ( Tamopsis spp. )
Family Hexathelidae
Sydney funnel-web spider ( Atrax robustus )
Adelaide funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche adelaidensis )
Tree funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche cerberea )
Eyre Peninsula funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche eyrei )
Hadronyche flindersi, Flinders funnelweb spider
Northern Rivers funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche formidabilis )
Toowoomba funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche infensa )
Victorian funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche modesta )
Cascade funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche pulvinator )
Tasmanian funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche venenata )
Blue Mountains funnelweb spider ( Hadronyche versuta )
Lake Fenton trapdoor spider ( Plesiothele fentoni )
Family Idiopidae
Tree-stem trapdoor spider ( Aganippe castellum )
Four-spotted trapdoor spider ( Aganippe subtristis )
Golden trapdoor spider ( Arbanitis spp. )
Tasmanian golden trapdoor spider ( Arbanitis tasmanica )
Adelaide trapdoor spider ( Blakistonia aurea )
Shieldbacked trapdoor spider ( Idiosoma nigrum )
Sydney brown trapdoor spider ( Misgolas rapax )
Tube spider ( Misgolas robertsi )
Family Lamponidae
Whitetailed spider ( Lampona cylindrata )
Family Linyphiidae
Common money spider ( Diplocephalus cristatus )
Family Lycosidae
Grey wolf spider ( Dingosa simsoni )
Little striped wolf spider ( Venatrix furcillata )
Garden wolf spider ( Lycosa godeffroyi )
Family Micropholcommatidae
Australian lungless spider ( Micropholcomma longissimum )
Bubs Hill micro cave spider ( Olgania excavata )
Family Mimetidae
Pirate spiders ( Australomimetus spp. )
Pirate spiders ( Mimetus spp. )
Family Miturgidae
Yellow nightstalking sac spider ( Cheiracanthium mordax )
Sac spiders ( Cheiracanthium spp.)
Slender sac spider ( Cheiracanthium stratioticum )
Lined spiders ( Miturga spp. )
Family Nemesiidae
Black wishbone spider ( Aname diversicolor )
Black wishbone spider ( Aname mainae )
Yorkrakine trapdoor spider ( Kwonkan eboracum )
Melbourne trapdoor spider ( Stanwellia grisea )
Pellet spider ( Stanwellia nebulosa )
Minnivale trapdoor spider ( Teyl spp. )
Family Nicodamidae
Red-n-black spiders ( Nicodamus spp. )
Red’n’black spider ( Novodamus nodatus )
Family Oecobiidae
Wall spider ( Oecobius annulipes )
Family Pholcidae
Daddy long-legs spider (Pholcus phalangioides )
Family Pisauridae
Giant water spider ( Megadolomedes australianus )
Family Salticidae
Australian jumping spider ( Breda jovialis )
Bronze Aussie jumper ( Helpis minitabunda )
Chink Jumping spider ( Holoplatys ssp. )
Northern Green Jumping spider ( Mopsus mormon )
Antmimicking spider ( Myrmarachne spp. )
Family Scytodidae
Perfect Spitting spider ( Scytodes perfecta )
Common Spitting spider ( Scytodes thoracica )
Family Sicariidae
Fiddleback spider ( Loxosceles rufescens )
Family Sparassidae
Avondale spider ( Delena cancerides )
Sydney Huntsman spider ( Holconia immanis )
Football spider (Neosparassus patellatus )
Shield Huntsman spiders ( Neosparassus spp. )
Lichen huntsman ( Pandercetes gracilis )
Giant Huntsman spider ( Typostola barbata )
Family Stiphidiidae
Trampoline spider ( Corasoides spp. )
Sombrero spider ( Stiphidion facetum )
Mullamullang Cave spider ( Tartarus mullamullangensis )
Murdoch Sink Cave spider ( Tartarus murdochensis )
Nurina Cave spider ( Tartarus nurinensis )
Murdoch Sink Cave spider ( Tartarus thampannensis )
Family Tetragnathidae
Golden Orbweavers ( Nephila spp. )
Leaf curling spider ( Phonognatha graeffei )
Four-jawed spider ( Tetragnatha spp. )
Family Theraphosidae
Eastern Tarantula ( Phlogius crassipes )
Coastal Whistling spider ( Selenocosmia crassipes )
Australian Common Whistling spider ( Selenocosmia stirlingi )
Australian Featherleg spider ( Selenotypus plumipes )
Family Theridiidae
Grey House spider – this spider was introduced ( Achaearanea tepidariorum )
Tangle Web spider ( Achaearanea veruculata )
Dewdrop spider ( Argyrodes antipodianus )
Whip spider ( Argyrodes patersoniensis )
Whip spiders ( Ariamnes spp. )
Brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus )
Redback spider ( Latrodectus hasselti )
Redlegged House spider ( Nesticodes rufipes )
Cupboard spider ( Steatoda grossa )
Silver Dewdrop spider ( Thwaitesia argentiopunctata )
Family Thomisidae
Green Tree Ant Mimicking spider ( Amyciaea albomaculata )
Flower spider ( Diaea spp. )
Green Crab spider ( Hedana spp. )
Knobbly Crab spider ( Stephanopis altifrons )
Family Uloboridae
White-Kneed spider ( Zosis geniculata )
Order Opiliones
Family Gagrellidae
Introduced Daddy-longlegs ( Nelima doriae )
Family Phalangiidae
Harvestmen ( Spinicrus spp. )
Family Triaenychidae
Harvestmen ( Equitius spp. )
Cave harvestman ( Hickmanoxyomma spp. )
Harvestmen ( Triaenobunus spp. )
Spider Control Bite Management
Treatment of spider bites depends on the species. If you can catch the spider alive, or at least in a well-preserved condition, it will help medical staff decide whether an anti-venene treatment is necessary.
Treatment of Spider Bites
1. Wash the wound area with soap & water and seek urgent medical attention. Especially so for red back spiders, trapdoors, mouse and funnel web spiders.
2. Use ice or cool water to reduce any inflammation
3. Panadol or other analgesics may settle any pain.
4. It is not recommend that antibiotics be administered unless a bacterial infection is present.
5. Antivenom is required for severe funnel-web spider envenomation.
Cutting of the wound is NOT recommended as it can delay wound healing, and leave scars.
Australian Dangerous Spider Chart
For a less technical Australian spider chart, have a look at this one that I saw on sale at a souvenir shop recently:
