Are there giant spiders in Australia?
Gradungulidae
Gradungulidae is a spider family endemic to Australia and New Zealand with 16 species in seven genera. They are medium to large-sized three-clawed haplogyne spiders with two pairs of book-lungs (like Mygalomorphae).
List of creatures in Primeval
The giant spiders are, despite appearances, not true spiders (order Araneae), but a species of Solifugae, a distinct arachnid order. The name derives from Latin, and means "those that flee from the sun". The adults are up to wide, by 1 m long, because the lush rainforest of the Carboniferous saturates the atmosphere with oxygen, allowing them to grow larger than modern arthropods. They have pincers instead of fangs – like the modern day camel spider, only much bigger. They also have long pedipalps, which function as sense organs similar to insects' antennae and give the appearance of the two extra legs. Pedipalps terminate in reversible adhesive organs. They do not appear to make webs or produce venom but they nest in large groups and are very defensive of their offspring.
Australian Age of Dinosaurs
In 1999 David Elliott, discovered the fossilised bone of what was, at the time, Australia's largest dinosaur while mustering sheep on his property Belmont near Winton. This bone was later identified as part of a giant femur from a Cretaceous sauropod that roamed the Winton area 95 million years ago. Following the discovery of more fossils during digs held in conjunction with the Queensland Museum, David and Judy Elliott called a public meeting in Winton on 17 August 2002 in view of establishing a dinosaur museum at Winton.
On 25 October 2002, ‘Australian Age of Dinosaurs Incorporated’, commenced operations as a not-for-profit organisation aimed at ensuring future dinosaur digs and the preparation and conservation of dinosaur fossils from the Winton Formation could continue. The organisation, with support from a strong member's volunteer base, began the initial stages of developing a major tourism attraction in the form of a dinosaur museum so that the discoveries could be preserved for perpetuity and be available to the public. 
While mustering sheep in March 2005, David Elliott discovered a new dinosaur site on Belmont and a subsequent dig in September uncovered the remains of one of Australia's most complete sauropod skeletons. A total of 17 pallets of fossil bones trapped in a fine siltstone rock were recovered and stored in the Belmont shed. The dinosaur was nicknamed "Wade", in posthumous honour of Australian Palaeontologist Dr Mary Wade who died during the dig. 
In late 2005, the discovery of a partial sauropod humerus on Elderslie Station, near Winton, led to a series of digs held by the AAOD Museum and the recovery of two dinosaur skeletons preserved together, one being a sauropod skeleton and the other a theropod. The sauropod was nicknamed "Matilda" and the theropod was nicknamed "Banjo" – both in honour of Andrew Barton "Banjo" Paterson and his classic poem "Waltzing Matilda". 
In mid-2006, David and Judy Elliott opened an "Australian Age of Dinosaurs" temporary fossil preparation facility in their shed at Belmont which was known locally as the "Prep Shed". It was here that fossil preparation was carried out by a small group of staff preparators and volunteers who were accommodated in the station's Jackeroo and Shearers Quarters. Work commenced on Wade and expanded to include the bones of "Banjo" and "Matilda" as each dig produced further fossils. This work continued for almost three years and incorporated the help of over 100 volunteers. It was during this time that the ‘Free Wade’ project began, supported by an Australian Geographic fundraiser and private donations from numerous volunteers, members and supporters. 
In September 2006, Peter and Carol Britton, owners of Mt Landsborough Station near Winton donated 1,400 hectares of mesa or "Jump-Up" country to AAOD as a site for the future Museum. Over the following three years funding was raised from Desert Channels Queensland to enable the new site to be fenced. The Winton Shire Council built a new gravel road to the top of the Jump-Up and the Queensland Government contributed $500,000 toward a fossil preparation facility, staff cottages and water and power amenities. The Prep Shed at Belmont was closed and all fossils and equipment relocated to the Jump-Up in early 2009. The new facilities were opened to the public in July 2009 by the Queensland Premier Anna Bligh as part of Queensland's 150th year (Q 150) celebrations. 
AAOD Inc was restructured in June 2008 to become a not-for-profit Company Limited by Guarantee with a board of up to nine directors. The new company, Australian Age of Dinosaurs Ltd (AAODL) created a Society of Members (Australian Age of Dinosaurs Society) to carry on the support based work of AAOD Inc with levels of membership including ordinary members and life members, known as "Million Year Members".
Ordgarius magnificus
Ordgarius magnificus, the magnificent spider, is a bolas spider in the family Araneidae. It is endemic to forests along the Australian east coast.
List of giant pandas
Asia
Many zoos and breeding centers in China house giant pandas. These include:Australia
Morelia spilota metcalfei
Morelia spilota metcalfei is a python subspecies found in Australia, commonly known as the Murray Darling carpet python. The pythons are non-venomous snakes that constrict their prey. They grow up to 2.7m (9 feet), but adults are usually around 2.4m (8 feet). Color varies depending on locality; Victorian MD's are silver with solid black blotches and stripes, as we move into NSW the silver becomes a light brown and the patterning becomes more of a dark brown rather than black, the SA MD's introduce patches of maroon. These pythons are semi-arboreal, typically inhabiting rocky outcrops, dry woodlands, riverine forests and flood plains. The threats to the snakes are people and other snakes.
Heteropoda cervina
Heteropoda cervina, commonly called the brown huntsman, is a large species of spider in the Sparassidae family often found in leaf litter in Central Queensland, Australia. The species was first described by Ludwig Carl Christian Koch in 1875 as "Sarotes cervinus".
Barking spider
Barking spider is a common name for several spiders from Australia and may refer to:
List of reptiles of Australia
The reptiles of Australia are a diverse group of animals, widely distributed across the continent. Three of the four orders of reptiles are native to Australia: Testudines, Squamata and Crocodilia. The only missing extant order is Sphenodontia, containing the tuataras, which are endemic to New Zealand. Australia has a large diversity of reptiles, with over 860 species. This is rich in comparison to other continents. For example, North America has approximately 280 species of reptile. The most diverse group is Squamata, also known as the snakes and lizards. The snakes and lizards are especially diverse in the arid areas of Australia, where diversity of other fauna is generally low. Spinifex grass is a major habitat which allows them to remain in a relatively cool, moist area.
List of medically significant spider bites
"A. robustus" is one of three designated species of the genus "Atrax". The related genus "Hadronyche" is represented by about 40 other dangerous species in eastern Australia, including Queensland and Tasmania. The males in this case have somewhat more potent venom than females and they also wander, making them more likely to be encountered in summer. Bites by males of two large species, the Sydney funnel-web and northern tree funnel-web, have resulted in death. One specific case denoted an individual being bitten on the heel through his leather footwear after provoking the spider, indicating the great strength of the spider's chelicerae.
Nephila edulis
Nephila edulis is a species of large spider of the Araneidae family. It is referred to the common name Australian golden orb weaver. It is found in Australia, in both tropical and temperate regions, and in parts of New Guinea and New Caledonia.
Artema atlanta
Artema atlanta is a species of spider of the family Pholcidae with a pantropical distribution. It is commonly known as the giant daddy-long-legs spider, in Australia and South Africa. With a body length of 8–11 mm, it is the largest pholcid in the world.
Giant huntsman spider
The giant huntsman spider is found in Laos, and is probably a cave dweller because of its pale colour, long legs and special hairs on the second foot of the male. There is no apparent reduction of the eyes, possibly because the species lives near cave entrances.
Hexathele hochstetteri
The banded tunnelweb spider ("Hexathele hochstetteri") is among New Zealand’s largest spiders, growing up to 20 mm in body length, and is endemic to New Zealand. The easiest way to distinguish a banded tunnelweb spider is to look for the chevron design on its abdomen. The chevron pattern is described as being yellowish, whilst the rest of the abdomen is a darker brown colour. They also have an orange-brown carapace, and six spinnerets. It is these six spinnerets that ultimately distinguish "Hexathele hochstetteri" from other genera of Hexathelidae, such as "Porrhothele", as they only have four spinnerets. Female banded tunnelweb spider eyes occupy around half their head space, whereas males differ, having slightly smaller lateral eyes.
Holconia immanis
Holconia immanis, commonly known as the Sydney huntsman spider, is a species of huntsman spider found in eastern Australia.
It was previously known as "Isopeda immanis" for many years. It is one of the largest species of huntsman in Australia and can have a body length of 4.5 cm and outstretched legs can measure 16 cm across.
Arbanitis robertcollinsi
Arbanitis robertcollinsi is a species of spider from Idiopidae family that is endemic to Australia. The species' males are long while its females are long.
Eriophora
Eriophora is a genus of orb-weaver spiders that occur in the Americas, Australasia and Africa. "Eriophora transmarina" is commonly known as the "Australian garden orb weaver spider".
Dardurus
Dardurus is a genus of spiders in the Amaurobiidae family. It was first described in 1976 by Davies. , it contains 6 species, all found in Australia.
Deinopis subrufa
Deinopis subrufa (also called the rufous net-casting spider) is a species of net-casting spiders. It occurs in eastern Australia and Tasmania. It is a nocturnal hunter, having excellent eyesight, and hunts using a silken net to capture its prey. They feed on a variety of insects - ants, beetles, crickets and other spiders. They can vary in color from fawn to pinkish brown or chocolate brown. Females are about 25mm in body length, males about 22mm. They are not dangerous to humans.
Argiope keyserlingi
Argiope keyserlingi is a common species of orb-web spider found on the east coast of Australia, from central New South Wales to northern Queensland. 
It is very similar in appearance to the closely related north Queensland species, "Argiope aetherea". "A. keyserlingi" is commonly found in large populations in suburban parks and gardens, particularly amongst the leaves of "Lomandra longifolia". Like many species of orb-web spider, "A. keyserlingi" shows considerable sexual size dimorphism, with the females being many times larger than the males. Mature females can be seen during the summer months and it is not uncommon to see multiple males on the web of one female.
Spiders of Australia
Australia has some highly venomous spiders, including the Sydney Funnel-web, its relatives in the family Hexathelidae, and the Redback Spider, whose bites can be extremely painful and have historically been linked with deaths in medical records. Most Australian spiders do not have venom that is considered to be dangerously toxic. No deaths caused by spider bites in Australia have been substantiated by a coronial inquest since 1979. There are, however, no shortage of sensationalised news reports that fail to cite evidence of any kind. "A Field Guide to Spiders of Australia" published by CSIRO Publishing in 2017 featuring around 836 species illustrated with photographs of live animals, around 381 genera and 78 families, introduced significant updates to taxonomy from Ramirez, Wheeler and Dmitrov
Spiders of Australia
William Joseph Rainbow (1856–1919) was probably the most prolific of Australia’s early home-grown contributors. He described around 200 new species of spiders. His Census of Australian Araneidae (1911) listed all 1,102 species known to that date.
Megaloastia
Megaloastia is a genus of spiders from Western Australia, which is placed in the Salticidae family (jumping spiders). The genus has only one species, Megaloastia mainae.
Prethopalpus
Prethopalpus is a spider genus known as Goblin Spiders and are found in the Australasian tropics, including Nepal, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Three species are widely distributed, whereas the majority of species are recorded a single localities. Of the 41 species, 14 blind troglobite species live in subterranean eceosystems in Western Australia.
Jba fofi
British cinematographer Richard Terry travelled to the Amazon to investigate reports of giant spiders in the June 13th episode of "Man v. Monster". At a remote village, he was informed that giant spiders lived in holes deep within the jungle. These spiders measured roughly four feet in diameter.
Spiders of Australia
The great exploratory work on Australian spiders, Die Arachniden Australiens, nach der Natur beschrieben und abgebildet (1871-1890), was begun by L. Koch and continued by Graf E. von Keyserling. The collectors of that time included Eduard Daemel (1821–1900) entomologist, trader, explorer and collector; and Amalie Dietrich (1821–91) who spent 10 years in Australia collecting specimens for the Museum Godeffroy in Hamburg.
Austracantha
"Austracantha minax" is most commonly known as "jewel spiders" due to their body colouration. This may sometimes be specified further as "Australian jewel spiders" due to the common name being shared with the unrelated North American jewel spider "Araneus gemmoides", as well as the widespread jewel box spider "Gasteracantha cancriformis". In some parts of Australia they are also widely known as "Christmas spiders" because they are most numerous during the summer months (December and January). Other common names for the species include "six-spined spiders" and "spiny spiders" in reference to the spine-like projections on their abdomens.
Australian garden orb weaver spider
The spiders are notable for the often large and intricate webs which they weave at night. They are usually nocturnal feeders, resting head down in their webs waiting to catch flying insects. They make their sticky rounded orb webs near lights and between trees where insects are likely to fly. During the day the spider will often rest somewhere near the web, usually under a leaf or twig, or in a crevice in bark or rock. They are commonly found around human habitation so may be found resting under leaves and in similar places. When disturbed they will retreat towards this rest area, although under imminent danger the spider will drop to the ground and "play dead". Occasionally individual spiders will remain on the web during the day, possibly when prey has not been caught for a while, but this makes them more vulnerable to predation by birds.
Aname
The spider genus Aname is endemic to Australia, with one species ("Aname tasmanica") found only on Tasmania. It contains the "black wishbone spider", "A. atra".
Australian funnel-web spider
Examination of bite records has implicated wandering males in most if not all fatal funnel-web bites to humans. Adult males, recognised by the modified terminal segment of the palp, tend to wander during the warmer months of the year looking for receptive females for mating. They are attracted to water, hence are often found in swimming pools, into which they often fall while wandering. The spiders can survive immersion in water for several hours and can deliver a bite when removed from the water. They also show up in garages and yards in suburban Sydney. Contrary to commonly held belief, funnel-web spiders are not able to jump, although they can run quickly.
Oxyopes macilentus
Oxyopes macilentus, sometimes known as the lean lynx spider, is a species of lynx spiders from East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and northern Australia. They are active predators, hunting invertebrates (including other spiders) among vegetation. They are especially common in grassy areas and rice fields. Their bodies are characteristically long and thin, about four times as long as it is wide. Their body color ranges from pale white to yellow, orange, or green; with a pattern of black, orange, and white longitudinal lines. Females have a maximum body length of , while males grow to .
Sydney funnel-web spider
The Australian Reptile Park receives funnel-web spiders as part of its milking program. In January 2016, they received a male Sydney funnel-web spider with a leg span. The spider was described by the park as the largest specimen that it had seen.
Gasteracantha fornicata
Gasteracantha fornicata (northern jewelled spider) is a species of spiny orb-weavers (family Araneidae) found in Queensland Australia. It is similar in shape to "Austracantha minax" which was originally described as "Gasteracantha minax". It was described by Johan Christian Fabricius in 1775, the first Australian species of spider to be named and classified.
Giant white-tailed rat
The giant white-tailed rat ("Uromys caudimaculatus") is an Australian rodent native to tropical rainforest of north Queensland, with subspecies occurring in New Guinea and the Aru Islands. It is one of the largest rodents in Australia, reaching up to 1 kg in weight, is grey-brown above, cream to white below, and has a long, naked tail of which the distal section is white (Moore 1995).
Apricia jovialis
Apricia jovialis (syn.: Ocrisiona jovialis), known as the jovial jumper is a small species of jumping spider found in Australia. This dark spider with yellow bands is often seen sheltering on tree bark.
Psechridae
They belong to the RTA clade of spiders, spiders that all have a Retrolateral Tibial Apophysis on the male pedipalp. A recent phylogenetic analysis places Psechridae as close relatives of the Lynx spiders (Oxyopidae), as well as wolf spiders (Lycosidae) and nursery web spiders (Pisauridae) (Agnarsson et al. 2013). With body lengths of up to 2 cm and funnel webs more than 1 m in diameter, they are among the biggest cribellate spiders. Psechrids construct cribellate webs and "Fecenia" construct webs that are similar to orb webs of Orbiculariae spiders, a remarkable example of evolutionary convergence (Blackledge et al. 2012, Agnarsson et al. 2013). Psechridae spiders are only found in SE Asia, where they occur in forests from lowland to altitudes exceeding 2000 m. Female "Psechrus" carry their egg-sac in the chelicerae, similar to their relatives, the ecribellate Pisauridae. They feature several characteristics normally found in ecribellate spiders, for example brood care behavior, and a colulus with no apparent function (Fang "et al." 2000).
Tasmanian giant crab
The Tasmanian giant crab is one of the largest crabs in the world, reaching a mass of and a carapace width of up to . Among crabs only the Japanese spider crab ("Macrocheira kaempferi") can weigh more. Male Tasmanian giant crabs reach more than twice the size of females, which do not exceed . Males have one normal-sized and one oversized claw (which can be longer than the carapace width), while both claws are normal-sized in the females. This crab is mainly whitish-yellow below and red above; the tips of the claws are black. Small individuals are yellowish-and-red spotted above.
Spiders of Australia
The urban myth of the bite of the White-tailed Spider leading to severe illness and large flesh-eating wounds has never been verified. Studies of verified "Lampona" bites have not shown any case of necrotising ulcers. Lamponidae has nearly 200 known species, all but two in Australia. The most common species is "Lampona cylindrata" (throughout Australia but not eastern Queensland). The almost identical "Lampona murina" is restricted to eastern Australia. These two species are difficult to tell apart, the only clue in the field, without looking at genitalia, being location. Lamponids have eight eyes in two rows. The middle two eyes in the back row are oval shaped and often silvery or blueish. Most tend to be medium-sized, though the body length range of all species is 3 to 13 mm. The cigar-shaped abdomen (sometimes flattened) is narrowed at both ends. The cephalothorax, which is often wider than the abdomen, is similarly shaped but shorter, usually about half the length of the abdomen. Legs are slender, with two claws, usually more slender than those of the similar Gnaphosidae. Juveniles tend to have more or less obvious whitish marks on the upper surface of the abdomen.
Coastal peacock spider
Maratus speciosus, sometimes called the coastal peacock spider, is an Australian species of jumping spider (family Salticidae). They are only known to inhabit the vegetation of the coastal sand dunes of southwestern Western Australia. Like other "Maratus" spiders, the males of the species engage in a courtship display during which they raise their third pair of legs and their abdomen, presenting their colorful opisthosomal plate to potential female partners. Unlike other "Maratus", however, the males of this species have a set of bright orange hairs (setae) along both edges of the opisthosoma which only become visible during this display.
Giant huntsman spider
The giant huntsman spider (scientific name Heteropoda maxima), found in Laos, is a species of huntsman spider ("Sparassidae"), a family of large, fast spiders that actively hunt down prey. It is considered the world's largest spider by leg span, which can reach up to .
Oztira
Oztira is a genus of spiders in the Amaurobiidae family. It was first described in 2011 by Milledge. it contains 4 Australian species.
Pandercetes gracilis
The Lichen Huntsman Spider, "Pandercetes gracilis" (also called the lichen spider), is a spider found in Queensland, Australia, as well as New Guinea, Maluku Islands, and Sulawesi.
Morelia spilota spilota
Morelia spilota spilota is a subspecies of carpet python ("Morelia spilota"), popularly known as the diamond python. It is a medium to large snake, found in coastal areas and adjacent ranges of south-eastern Australia. They are the most southerly occurring python in the world and are found at higher altitudes than any other species of Australian python.
Spiders of New Zealand
The flat huntsman spider ("Delena cancerides"), also from Australia, and called the Avondale spider in New Zealand, was accidentally introduced in the early 1920s, possibly in shipments of hardwood logs used for railway sleepers. The huntsman spiders, which are considered harmless to humans, have been collected for use in at least two films.
Limnodynastes
Limnodynastes (commonly known as the Australian swamp frogs) is a genus of frog native to Australia, southern New Guinea and some Torres Strait Islands. They are ground-dwelling frogs, with no toe pads. The size varies from 45 mm to 90 mm in the giant banjo frog. The webbing on the feet ranges between species, from very little, to almost complete. The tympanum is not visible in any species, except in the woodworker frog, which is sometimes classed in a separate genus "Megistolotis". All species construct a foam nest in which the eggs are laid. However, in south-eastern South Australia female striped marsh frog and spotted grass frog lack the flanges of skin on the hands that helps trap the air bubble and do not construct foam nests.
Clubiona robusta
Clubiona robusta or the stout sac spider is a common spider found in Australia. Females are often found living in a silken brooding chamber, under bark of eucalyptus trees. They are small sized spiders. Body length 13 mm for females, 10 mm for males.
Epidemiology of snakebites
In Northern Australia, sea snakes are common and occasionally inflict bites, although far less frequently than terrestrial snakes. Several venomous colubrids exist in Australia as well, such as the brown tree snake, although they have geographically limited distributions and only very rarely deliver a medically significant bite. In Tasmania and Kangaroo Island, which have a cooler, moister habitat than mainland Australia, the tiger snakes and copperhead snakes inflict the majority of bites. The brown snakes are not present on these islands.
Australian funnel-web spider
The family includes the following genera.Australian funnel-webs are one of the most dangerous groups of spiders in the world and are regarded by some to be the most deadly, both in terms of clinical cases and venom toxicity. Six species have caused severe injuries to human victims, including the Sydney funnel-web ("Atrax robustus"), northern tree funnel-web ("Hadronyche formidabilis"), southern tree funnel-web ("H. cerberea"), Blue Mountains funnel-web ("H. versuta"), Darling Downs funnel-web ("H. infensa"), and the Port Macquarie funnel-web ("H. macquariensis").
Spiders of New Zealand
Very few New Zealand spiders have bites that can cause significant injury to humans, and of these, only one – the katipo – is endemic. Katipo bites have been known to cause systemic effects, such as hypertension, seizure, or coma, though no deaths as a result of katipo bites have been recorded for over 200 years. Its more dangerous close relative, the venomous Australian redback spider, has established a foothold in some parts of New Zealand, notably in Taranaki and Central Otago.
List of amphibians of Australia
Australia and New Guinea are the two major land masses which make up the Australian continent. During its history, there have been many land connections between New Guinea and Australia. The most recent of which severed 10,000 years ago during the transition from a glacial period to the current interglacial period. The result of this recent land connection on the Australian amphibian fauna has been the swapping of species, and even families. The origin of the frog species found on both land masses can be determined by their distributions. It is likely that White's Tree Frog ("Litoria caerulea") migrated from Australia to New Guinea, as it is widespread in Australia and only inhabits small areas within New Guinea. Whereas the Giant Tree Frog ("Litoria infrafrenata") is likely from New Guinea, as it is widespread in New Guinea, and only inhabits the Cape York Peninsula in Australia. The single "Nyctimystes" species in Australia is another example of genus swapping that occurred between New Guinea and Australia.
White-tailed spider
White-tailed spiders are spiders native to southern and eastern Australia, and so named because of the whitish tips at the end of their abdomens. Body size is up to 18 mm, with leg-span of 28 mm. Common species are "Lampona cylindrata" and "Lampona murina". Both these species have been introduced to New Zealand.
Tarantula
Some dangerous spider species are related to tarantulas and are frequently confused with them. A popular urban legend maintains that deadly varieties of tarantula exist somewhere in South America. This claim is often made without identifying a particular spider, although the "banana tarantula" is sometimes named. A likely candidate for the true identity of this spider is the dangerous Brazilian wandering spider "Phoneutria fera", of the family Ctenidae, as it is sometimes found hiding in clusters of bananas and is one of several spiders called the "banana spider." It is not technically a tarantula, but it is fairly large (4– to 5-inch legspan), somewhat hairy, and is highly venomous to humans. Another dangerous type of spider that has been confused with tarantulas is the Australian funnel-web spider. The best known of these is the Sydney funnel-web spider "Atrax robustus", a spider that is aggressive, highly venomous, and (prior to the development of antivenom in the 1980s) was responsible for numerous deaths in Australia. These spiders are members of the same suborder as tarantulas. Some Australians use the slang term 'triantelope' (a corruption of the incorrect term 'tarantula', which is also used) for large, hairy, and harmless members of the huntsman spider family which are often found on interior household walls and in automobiles.
Delena cancerides
Delena cancerides, the flat huntsman spider or social huntsman spider, is a large, brown huntsman spider native to Australia. It has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is sometimes known as the Avondale spider as they are commonly found in the suburb of Avondale, Auckland. This was the species used in the beginning of the 2002 movie "Spider-Man", a part in Australian movie "Napoleon" and widely in "Arachnophobia", and all films depict them as having a deadly venomous bite, but they are generally considered harmless to humans in real-life. It was first described by Charles Athanase Walckenaer in 1837.
Spiders of Australia
The Sydney Funnelweb Spider "Atrax robustus", is considered to be the world’s most dangerous spider. It is found within a 100 km diameter circle around Sydney. No deaths have occurred since the advent of an antivenom in 1981. Males wander at night in spring and summer in search of females. Some wander into houses or fall into swimming pools, where they can stay alive underwater for long periods. This species has been milked for research at James Cook University Cairns for use in cancer treatments.
Australian snake habitats
Located on the east coast, Queensland is the second largest state and has a wide range of climates due to its vast size. The coastal area is very humid and warm year round with the dry season being in the winter. The inland section of the state is dominated by grassland. The majority of the snakes found in Queensland are in the north of the state where there is tropical rainforest, which provides dense vegetation for the snakes to shelter in, and a wide variety of forest animals for them to prey upon. Snakes also inhabit natural caves and soft soil near cliffs, where there are ample sunny rocks for them to bake on during the day. The snakes are also capable of digging themselves into the soil.
Phantom cat
Phantom cats, also known as Alien Big Cats (ABCs), are large felines, such as jaguars, cougars, and leopards, which allegedly appear in regions outside their indigenous range. Sightings, tracks and predation have been reported in a number of countries and states including Canada, Britain, Australia, Spain, Ireland, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, the Eastern United States, Hawaii, Italy and Luxembourg.
White-tailed spider
Both species are native to Australia. "Lampona cylindrata" is present across south-east Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia while "Lampona murina" is found in eastern Australia from north-east Queensland to Victoria. The spiders have been introduced in New Zealand with "Lampona murina" residing in the North Island for over a hundred years while "Lampona cylindrata" has become widespread throughout the South Island since 1980.
List of endangered spiders
The Katipo spider is related to the Australian Redback and other Widow Spiders. This spider can be found in New Zealand in burrows or trees. The name means "night-stinger" in native Maori. This species is listed as endangered due to habitat loss, as well as non-native spider introduction. It is estimated that only a few thousand of these spiders remain in the wild.
Phryganoporus candidus
Phryganoporus candidus, sometimes called the foliage webbing spider, is a spider widespread, but endemic in Australia. It is up to 10 mm long, silvery grey to brown with a pattern of light and dark brown markings on the abdomen. Unlike most other spiders, "P. candidus" lives socially at one stage: Spiderlings live together in a nest built on foliage until they reach the subadult stage. The males even stay into the adult stage and only then leave. This communal nest has an inner retreat area, many entrance holes opening into a network of interconnecting passages, and an outer area made out of cribellate silk for prey capture. One nest can in extreme cases house more than 600 spiders. Nests of this size attract many arthropod parasites. The species name is derived from Latin "candidus" "shining white", referring to the color of the legs.
Spiders of Australia
A complete checklist of Australian spiders can be found at the web site of the Australasian Arachnological Society which is updated occasionally, independent of the World Spider Catalogue ( WSC), but generally following the WSC.
Australian garden orb weaver spider
The Australian garden orb weaver spider (Eriophora transmarina) is a very common species of spider with many variants in size, shape, and colour across the coastal regions of the eastern states of Australia. They have very large abdomens when well-fed and exhibit a tremendous colour-range from off-white through tan, brown to almost black. They have a roughly leaf-shaped pattern on the top of their abdomen with a complex outline that is darker than the surrounding area. There may also be several whitish spots or one or more stripes. The spiders' cephalothoraxes (heads) and proximal (closer to the body) leg segments are usually darker, mostly reddish or reddish brown. They are able to change their colour with each moult to better match the background upon which they rest during the day.
Cupiennius salei
Cupiennius salei, commonly called the tiger wandering spider, is a large spider belonging to a group of wandering spiders found in Central America (also one of many diverse types that mistakenly get called banana spiders), although this species is specifically from Eastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. The species was accidentally introduced into Germany in the early 20th century from banana plantations in Central America. In the mid-1950s it was realised that the spider is an ideal model for biological research because of its large size, inactive behaviour, and ease of breeding in laboratories. From an initial 1963 publication on its biological characteristics, it has become the most studied species of spider. Furthermore, the spider is now known to produce a complex neurotoxic venom, such as cupiennins and CSTX, of which a peptide called CsTx-1 is highly potent for paralysing its prey. Its toxin has also become one of the most studied among those of venomous spiders. As the spider does not produce a web for trapping prey, being venomous is its primary strategy for prey capture. It is known to prey on a wide range of insects and small vertebrates.
Hadronyche infensa
Hadronyche infensa, the Darling Downs funnel-web spider, is a venomous mygalomorph spider, one of a number of Australian funnel-web spiders found in Queensland and New South Wales.
Zephyrarchaea
Zephyrarchaea is a genus of assassin spiders that occurs in Australia. It has been encountered in Western Australia, Victoria and South Australia.
Spiders of Australia
Keith McKeown wrote "Spider Wonders of Australia" in 1936, followed by "Australian Spiders: Their Lives and Habits" in 1952 and "Australian Spiders in 1963". Barbara York Main, based in Western Australia, wrote a Jacaranda Pocket Guide in 1964. John Child published Spiders of Australia in 1965. In 1967 V. V. Hickman, contributed "Some Common Spiders of Tasmania". Ion Staunton was author of a factfinder book "All about Australian Spiders" in 1968. Densey Clyne published Australian Spiders in 1969. Ramon Mascord published "Australian Spiders in Colour" in 1970, "Australian Spiders" in 1978 and "Spiders of Australia" in 1980.
Steatoda grossa
Steatoda grossa, commonly known as the cupboard spider, the dark comb-footed spider, the brown house spider (in Australia), or the false black widow (though several other species are known by these names), is a common species of spider in the genus "Steatoda".
Araneus bradleyi
Araneus bradleyi, known as the enamelled spider, is a common Australian spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It occurs in Tasmania, New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, Australia.
Ligonipes
"L. semitectus" is a very common spider in Queensland, Australia. Males are 4 mm long, females 5 mm. There has been no information about "L. similis" (formerly in genus "Rhombonotus") since its original description in 1882.
White-tailed spider
They live in gardens and inside houses, beneath bark and rocks, in leaf litter and are often found in the folds of clothes, towels and shoes. They do not build webs. Most active at night, they hunt for other spiders. Their favoured prey are the black house spider ("Badumna insignis") and the closely related brown house spider ("Badumna longinqua"), both of which are, like the whitetail, native to Australia but have been inadvertently introduced to New Zealand.
Grymeus
Grymeus is a tiny genus of goblin spiders that is found in Australia. They live in leaf litter and under tree bark.
Amethystine python
The amethystine python ("Morelia amethistina"), also known as the scrub python or sanca permata locally, is a nonvenomous species of snake found in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Popular among reptile enthusiasts, and noted for its coloration and size, it is one of the six largest snakes in the world, as measured either by length or weight, and is the largest native snake in Australia and Papua New Guinea. Currently, four subspecies of the nominate race, "M. a. amethystina", are generally recognized. The Mollucan Islands, including Halmahera, Ternate, and Tidore, are home to "M. a. tracyei". The Tanimbar Islands are home to a smaller subspecies, "M. a. nauta". On the island of Seram, "M. a. clastolepis" can be found, and mainland PNG (including the Indonesian western half, once called Irian Jaya—now West Papua) and many of its near offshore islands, "M. a. amethystina" is quite common. In Australia, "M. a. kinghorni" is represented.
Caladenia tensa
In Victoria, the rigid spider orchid is found between Horsham and Ouyen and west to the border with South Australia, mostly in the Little Desert National Park. In the past it has been recorded in the Cape Gantheaume, Billiatt and Mount Boothby Conservation Parks in South Australia and near Lake Cargelligo, Trundle and Carrathool in New South Wales but its present distribution is unclear. It grows in "eucalyptus" and "cypress" woodland.
Megateg
Megateg is a genus of spiders in the Zoropsidae family. It was first described in 2005 by Raven & Stumkat. , it contains 8 species, all from Queensland.
List of medically significant spider bites
The Australian funnel-web spiders, such as the Sydney funnel-web spider "Atrax robustus" (a mygalomorph spider not to be confused with the araneomorph funnel-weaver or grass spiders) are regarded as among the most venomous in the world. They react vigorously to threats and, reputedly, will more often attempt to bite than run away. "A. robustus", a large black spider, is found within a radius of about 100 km from Sydney. Its venom contains a compound known as atracotoxin which is highly toxic to primates. Approximately 10% of bites lead to serious symptoms for a total of 3-4 severe envenomations annually.
Australobus
Australobus is a genus of spiders in the Orsolobidae family. It was first described in 1985 by Forster & Platnick. , it contains only one species, Australobus torbay, found in Western Australia.
Aname atra
Aname atra, the black wishbone spider, is a mygalomorph spider of South Australia. It is one of the wishbone spiders in the taxonomic family Nemesiidae, found in varied habitats throughout Australia, including Tasmania. The most common species are the mottled eastern wishbones in the genus "Namea", found in rainforests, black wishbones in the genus "Aname", found in drier parts of Queensland, and the bearded wishbone, "Xamiatus magnificus", also found in Queensland.
Spiders of Australia
Peacock Spiders ("Maratus" spp.) are endemic to Australia. Peacock Spider males extend brilliantly coloured fans and wave their legs in a display for their female partners. Their fans are flaps and fringes on the sides of the abdomen, normally folded away, are inflated and spread wide when displaying. Presently the Australian peacock spiders are assigned to two genera, "Maratus" Karsch 1878 and "Saratus" Otto & Hill 2017. Whereas only a single species of "Saratus" has been described, the genus "Maratus" includes a diverse variety of at least 59 described species endemic to Australia.
Tiger snake
Tiger snakes are a highly venomous snake species found in the southern regions of Australia, including its coastal islands, such as Tasmania. These snakes are highly variable in their colour, often banded like those on a tiger, and forms in their regional occurrences. All populations are in the genus Notechis, and their diverse characters have been described in further subdivisions of this group; they are sometimes described as distinct species and/or subspecies.
Argiope mascordi
Argiope mascordi is a species of orb-web spider found in Queensland, Australia. The females of this species are smaller and less colourful than many other spiders in the genus "Argiope". Males are larger than many other "Argiope". Web decorations in this species are interesting in that "A. mascordi" juveniles construct a cross and adults construct a disc. The reason for this apparent reversal in decorating behaviour remains unknown.
Caladenia decora
Caladenia decora, commonly known as the Esperance king spider orchid is a species of orchid endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It has a single hairy leaf and up to three red, yellow and green flowers. It is a variable species, similar to the king spider orchid ("C. pectinata") and sometimes hybridises with other species so that it can be difficult to recognise, but is one of the largest spider orchids found in Western Australia.
Araneus praesignis
Araneus praesignis is a species of orb-weaving spider found in Queensland, Australia where it is widespread and common in well-vegetated areas. The Atlas of Living Australia shows a record from New South Wales. In 2015 a sighting from China was reported. It has bold black blobs on its rear, perhaps mimicking eyes. In 2014 Carly Brooke Martinetti gave it the common name "Alien Butt Spider" by which it became internationally known. Due to its memorable common name and strange appearance photographs of the spider have appeared in many online blogs and galleries.
Pillara
Pillara is a genus of spiders in the Stiphidiidae family. It was first described in 2004 by Gray & Smith. , it contains 4 Australian species.
Afraflacilla
"Afraflacilla" species in Australia include "A. grayorum, A. gunbar", "A." "huntorum", "A." "milledgei", "A." "stridulator", "A." "vestjensi" and "A." "yeni". In Australia they occupy tree trunks in deserts, savanna woodland and in open sclerophyll forests from south west Western Australia to Cape York Queensland, mostly in warmer regions. There are many undescribed Australian species. "Afraflacilla grayorum" Grays' stridulating jumping spider, found in northern Australian deserts, was named in honour of Michael and Greta Gray.
Fauna of Australia
Australia has a wide variety of arachnids, including 78 spider families with 79 species of spider familiar enough to have common names. There are numerous highly venomous species, including the notorious Sydney funnel-web and allied mygalomorphs, whose bites can be deadly. The Redback Spider was thought to be deadly but Redback bites are no longer thought to be life-threatening, as the lack of deaths since 1956 was thought to be due to the development of an anti-venom which has since been shown to be no better than placebo[126] [127]. There are thousands of species of mites and ticks from the subclass Acari. Australia also has at least 150 species of pseudoscorpion with an estimated 550 more waiting to be described, and at least 17 scorpion genera with 120 species.
Spiders of Australia
The Daddy Long-legs Spider "Pholcus phalangioides" (so named because the abdomen is finger-shaped) is one of nine introduced pholcids in Australia. A myth developed around its venom, suggesting it would easily kill a person if only its fangs were big enough to penetrate skin. This suggestion is bogus. It may have arisen because of its ability to kill the Redback Spider Latrodectus hasseltii. Daddy Long-legs Spiders can tangle up and wrap Redback Spiders from a safe distance by means of their long legs, which they use to apply silk. Once the Redback is fully trussed, the Daddy Long-legs Spider bite at will and simply wait for the bigger spider to die so it can feed.
Hedleyella falconeri
Hedleyella falconeri, the giant panda snail, is a species of air-breathing land snail, a terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusc in the family Caryodidae. It is the largest species of land snail to be found in Australia.
Australian Reptile Park
Arachnids include tarantulas, funnel web spiders, trapdoor spider, huntsman spider, Goliath birdeater spider, mouse spider, redback spider, wolf spider, and scorpions.
Meta menardi
The adult spiders are photophobic and live in places free from light, frequently in caves and tunnels, though they can sometimes be seen outside of caves and mines as they will emerge around dusk to hunt, often using a single silk lasso line and swinging down upon their prey. They are often found in areas that are frequented by bats. The spiders are most often observed in railway tunnels and mines since these are more likely to be visited by humans. The young spiders are, after several instars, (and in contrast to the adults) strongly attracted to light—probably an evolutionary adaptation which ensures the spread of the species to new areas (see Life cycle for further details).
They are shiny satin black to reddish brown in colour, often having a different coloured rear body which varies from black, brown or even olive green and are one of the largest spiders found in the United Kingdom with adults reaching roughly 5 cm legspan and 15 mm body length. However, the giant house spider, cardinal spider and the raft spider are larger. It is widespread and locally abundant, although rarely noticed due to its habits. They are neither endangered nor protected in the UK.
Fauna of Australia
In the Annelida (sub)class Oligochaeta there are many families of aquatic worms, and for native terrestrial worms: the Enchytraeidae (pot worms) and the "true" earthworms in families Acanthodrilidae, Octochaetidae and Megascolecidae. The latter includes the world's largest earthworm, the giant Gippsland earthworm, found only in Gippsland, Victoria. On average they reach 80 cm in length, but specimens up to 3.7 m in length have been found.
Great raft spider
The spider was first found in South Wales in 2003 in the disused Tennant Canal at Pant-y-Sais Fen. Surveying found a stable population as well as identifying further occurrences at the nearby Crymlyn Bog and in connecting wetlands but the full range of the spider is not fully known. This due to the difficulty of surveying work in wetland terrain and problems with identification. The habitat at the site is considered good enough for the population not to be declining.
Ptinus tectus
The Australian spider beetle ("Pictus tectus") measures 2.5–4 mm in length and is coloured dark brown. The adults have biting mouthparts, a well developed thorax and 11-segmented antennae. Characteristics which give them a spider-like appearance include a stout body, pronounced constriction of the neck shield and 6 long thin legs with 5-segmented tarsi.
Nicodamus peregrinus
Nicodamus peregrinus, known as the red and black spider, is a common spider found in eastern and southern Australia. Unlike with the redback spider ("Latrodectus hasseltii"), the bright red coloration does not appear to warn of significant danger to humans. Food is a variety of small insects. They have been recorded in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.
Giant grouper
The giant grouper ("Epinephelus lanceolatus"), also known as the brindlebass, brown spotted cod, or bumblebee grouper, and as the Queensland groper in Australia, is the largest bony fish found in coral reefs, and the aquatic emblem of Queensland. It is found from near the surface to depths of at reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific region, with the exception of the Persian Gulf. It also enters estuaries, such as the lowermost part of the Brisbane River. It reaches up to in length and in weight. Giant groupers feed on a variety of marine life, including small sharks and juvenile sea turtles. Due to overfishing, this species has declined drastically in many regions, and as of the mid-1990s. It is considered Data Deficient by the IUCN.
This giant fish is similar to the Malabar grouper, and its colour changes with age. The giant grouper has a large mouth and a rounded tail. Juveniles have irregular black and yellow markings, while adults are green-grey to grey-brown with faint mottling, with numerous small black spots on the fins.
Spider
The main groups of modern spiders, Mygalomorphae and Araneomorphae, first appear in the Triassic well before . Some Triassic mygalomorphs appear to be members of the family Hexathelidae, whose modern members include the notorious Sydney funnel-web spider, and their spinnerets appear adapted for building funnel-shaped webs to catch jumping insects. Araneomorphae account for the great majority of modern spiders, including those that weave the familiar orb-shaped webs. The Jurassic and Cretaceous periods provide a large number of fossil spiders, including representatives of many modern families.
Spiders of Australia
The "mungaich" group endemic to the southern part of Western Australia, includes species with very wide, brightly-coloured fans covered with a pattern of bright red scales on a background of iridescent scales. All males in the group extend legs III, but several ("M. avibus", "M. bubo", "M. caeruleus", and "M. madelineae") closely bracket the fan with legs III as they display. The "pavonis" group is centered around "Maratus pavonis". The "spicatus" group includes three very small species. Males rear their colourful fan and wave it from side to side but do not extend legs III as they display to females. The "tasmanicus" group includes two closely related species, one southeastern and one southwestern. Males have a large triangular fan with lobate flaps, each flap bearing a large black spot. The "velutinus" group have a velvety-black fan with elongated, black dorsal scales. The "volans" group contains three of the most colourful peacock spiders. Males of all three species have a large, fringed fan with distinctive figures consisting of pigmented scales on a background of iridescent scales.
Maratus sceletus
Maratus sceletus (colloquially named skeletorus) is a species of the genus "Maratus" (peacock spiders), an Australian member of the jumping spider family. Described in 2015, they have been collected only in Wondul Range National Park in southern Queensland. The species name is derived from the Latin "sceletus" "skeleton", from its distinctive body pattern.
Australian funnel-web spider
The primary range of the Australian funnel-web spiders is the eastern coast of Australia, with specimens found in New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland. The only Australian states or territories without funnel-webs are Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Actinopodidae
The spider family Actinopodidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders found in Australia and South America. This family includes the Australian genus "Missulena", known as mouse spiders. The bites of "Missulena" spiders, though rare, are considered medically significant and potentially dangerous.
Austracantha
Jewel spiders are endemic to Australia. They can be found all throughout the mainland, as well surrounding islands, including Tasmania, Barrow Island (Western Australia), and the Montebello Islands. They are more common on the southern regions of the continent, from southern Queensland and New South Wales, through Victoria and Southern Australia, to Western Australia. Though they can be found in the Northern Territory, they are less common and their place is usually taken by species from the genus "Gasteracantha" instead.
Nicodamus
Nicodamus is a genus of small spiders known from Australia. They are often referred to as the red and black spiders. As of 2017 its two species include "Nicodamus peregrinus" and "Nicodamus mainae".
Redback spider
Indigenous Australians in New South Wales mixed the venom with that of snakes and pine tree gum to form a broth used to coat spear tips. Slim Newton drew popular attention to redbacks with his song "The Redback on the Toilet Seat", which won the Golden Guitar at the first Country Music Awards of Australia in 1973. Newton recalled an occasion when a friend used his outside toilet where the light globe had blown and reported he was lucky there was not a redback spider on the toilet seat. The phrase inspired him to write the song. A sculpture of an impossibly large redback, one of Australia's big things, was built in 1996 at Eight Mile Plains, Queensland. The Angels 1991 album "Red Back Fever" takes its name from the spider. Matilda Bay Brewing Company produces a wheat beer called Redback, with the distinctive red stripe as the logo. The redback appears in the name and emblem of the South Australia cricket team. The Airborne Redback, an Australian ultralight trike, was also named after the spider. Redback Boots is an Australian workboot manufacturing company, which uses the spider in its name and logo. In 2006 a redback spider stamp was designed as part of a "Dangerous Australians" stamp series, but was withheld from general circulation by Australia Post due to concerns that the realistic depiction would scare people opening their letter boxes.