There are 91 species of spider in Iceland—none of which are poisonous to humans— plus the occasional visitor or migrant. This is a small number, compared with 44,000 species known worldwide.
The only places where there are no spiders are the polar regions, the highest mountains and the oceans. A few spider species have invaded the ocean's edge, living in the rock and coral crevices of the intertidal zone.
In Australia they are only found in the southeastern part of the country, from South Australia to Queensland via Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. You won't find them in the dry and arid zones. On the other hand, huntsman and wolf-spiders are found all over the country.
Which country has the most spiders? Millions upon millions of wildlife species call Africa home, and it is no different with spiders. Comprising of different climates and landscapes, just like Australia (except 3x larger), Africa sees some of the world's most venomous spiders.
Commonly found underneath bark, rocks, leaf litter and logs in the bush and around the home and garden. They eat other spiders including daddy-long-legs, redbacks and black house spiders, and as such are most active at night when their prey is out hunting.
Find out what to do if you're bitten and how to identify a spider. Australia is well-known for its spiders, but the place isn't overrun with them. While we may have some of the world's most venomous species, you are unlikely to come across one unbless you go looking for one or happen to disturb one hiding away.
New Zealand is home to about 2500 kinds of spiders, most of them harmless to people. Only some spiders are capable of biting humans. There are three species of spiders in New Zealand that should be avoided – the Katipo, the Redback and the White-tailed Spider.
It is estimated that there are around 10,000 different spider species living across Australia. Australia is known for the large variety of venomous animals that live in the country and is also home to some of the most venomous spiders in the world.
A distressing fact of life in Australia for many tourists and arachnophobes is that most Australian houses have a fair supply of spiders around the place. Fortunately, most of them are just there for the bugs, and the majority aren't that dangerous. Here are a few that you might come across in your travels.
Antarctica Is The Only Continent Without Spiders
Antarctica is the only continent to have no spiders. Studies have been done that report you are never more than 10 feet away from a spider at all times, although one study showed as close as 3 feet.
An estimated 5 per cent of Australians have arachnophobia, but there are plenty of others happy to get close to the creepy crawlies.
You can be prepared without making it scary. There are all kinds of dangerous things in Australia. Spiders are only part of it: we have stingers, blue-ringed octopus, stonefish, sharks, snakes…but fear of wildlife isn't a reason not to move here. Just remember, your home country likely has dangerous creatures too.
Australia is warmer than NZ. It generally has more spiders.
Is there any place in Australia with no snakes and spiders? No. Most suburban areas of Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth are mostly snake free. Even though it is portrayed as full as dangerous animals, Australia is relatively safe from its wildlife.
Goliath Birdeater Tarantula – Theraphosa blondi (South America) Based on mass, this is the largest spider in the world (leg-span measurements make it second to the giant huntsman).
Australian Huntsman spiders belong to the Family Sparassidae (formerly Heteropodidae) and are famed as being the hairy so-called 'tarantulas' on house walls that terrify people by scuttling out from behind curtains.
White-tailed spiders, Lampona cylindrata, are common and widespread across Australia.
In Australia only 2700 species, in 500 genera and 78 families, have been described out of an estimated 10,000 species. Many species of spiders contribute to the biological control of pests in crops.
Rare giant trapdoor spider species named
A rare and giant species of spider only found in a regional part of Queensland has been discovered. The Euoplos dignitas is a large trapdoor spider that lives in open woodland habitats and builds burrows in the black soils of the Brigalow Belt in Central Queensland.
Australia is known for many things, including swathes of tropical beaches, marine reserves, Aboriginal culture, cute koalas, rolling wine country, and lush rainforests.
Golden orb weaving spiders do particularly well in Sydney city. They build huge webs that span across roads and between trees near the coast and the botanic gardens. They often choose highly populated areas to live, and research has shown that they grow larger when they live in the city.
What is the biggest spider in Australia? Australia's biggest spiders belong to the same family as the Goliath Spider. They are the whistling spiders. The northern species Selenocosmia crassipes can grow to 6 cm in body length with a leg span of 16 cm.
As common as spiders are in Australia and how essential it is for the environment, no one still likes to see them in their home. With over 2400 different species in Australia, you are most likely to see any one of these eight-legged creatures in your lifetime.