Katipō spiders live among clumps of sand-dune vegetation or under driftwood, and are nocturnal. The female, shown here, is about the size of a pea – six times larger than the male. She can deliver a venomous bite, which causes fever, muscle tremors and vomiting. The English translation of katipō is ‘night stinger’.
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira
Photograph by John W. Early
Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou