Huntsman spider fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC
What is a huntsman spider and what does it look like?
Huntsman spiders are arachnids. They have large, hairy and flat-bodies. Their legs fan out sideways enabling them to walk forwards and sideways. They are found in a variety of colours and patterns but are mostly brown, black or grey. Some species are very large reaching over 16 centimetres in leg span.
Fast facts – Huntsman spider
What are they – Huntsman spiders are arachnids with two body parts (cephalothorax and abdomen) and eight legs.
Body features – They have large, hairy, flat bodies and their legs fan out sideways, so they can move forwards and sideways very quickly.
Diet – Huntsman spiders eat invertebrates such as insects and also small lizards and frogs.
Where they live – Huntsman spiders occur Australia-wide and live on tree trunks, under bark, beneath stones and even on the walls inside houses. Their flat bodies help them squeeze into narrow places.
Life cycle – Huntsman spiders use their silk to build egg sacs about the size of a 20 cent piece to protect their eggs, often hidden under bark.
Where do huntsman spiders live?
Huntsman spiders occur Australia-wide and are usually found on tree trunks, under bark, beneath stones and even on the walls inside houses. Their flat body allows them to squeeze into narrow places.
What do huntsman spiders eat?
Huntsman spiders eat invertebrates as well as small lizards and frogs. Their fangs are large and can be used to hold the prey until it is paralysed by their venom.
What is the role of huntsman spiders in the ecosystem?
Huntsman spiders control invertebrate populations and pest species such as the household cockroach. They are also food for other animals such as birds, geckos and spider wasps.
What are the features and adaptations of huntsman spiders?
Cephalothorax
The cephalothorax is the head and thorax fused together. Huntsmen have 8 eyes to spot approaching prey and predators.
Located at the front of the spider are the mouth parts called chelicerae that includes their fangs which they use to inject venom into their prey. Beside the chelicerae are the pedipalps which the huntsman uses to feel and touch things around them and also helping to catch and hold onto prey. Males of some species use their pedipalps when mating.
All the spiders' jointed legs are attached to the cephalothorax. The legs have sensitive hairs to pick up sounds, vibrations and air currents.
Abdomen
The abdomen has no appendages except for small spinnerets at the rear base which produce silk.
Huntsmen spiders build silk egg sacks the size of a 20 cent piece to protect their eggs. These can often be found under bark.
Related fact sheets
More invertebrate fact sheets
- Invertebrate fact sheets – overview
- Arachnids fact sheet – overview (body parts, arachnid groups and huntsman case study)
- St Andrew’s Cross spider fact sheet – orb-web builder with a different web style
- Trapdoor spider fact sheet – contrasts orb-weaving with burrow-dwelling ambush hunters
- Golden orb weaving spider fact sheet – large web-building spider for comparison
Habitats and ecosystems
Attributions
Image attributions
Huntsman spiders live on tree trunks and under bark. Sparassidae, Delena cancerides, Social Huntsman Spider by Catching The Eye on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 (cropped).
Huntsman spiders have 8 eyes. The mouth parts are called chelicerae. Huntsman by Jean and Fred Hort on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
The abdomen – back body part – of a huntsman spider has no appendages except tiny spinnerets. Eight, count 'em by Merryjack on Flickr. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
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