Venomous spiders
New Zealand has no harmful animals like venomous snakes, scorpions or venomous insects, so its sole venomous native spider – the rare katipō – has almost mythical status.
Part of story: Spiders and other arachnids
Spiders and other arachnids
New Zealand’s spiders are mostly harmless to humans, busily trapping or hunting a vast number of insects.
Part of story: Spiders and other arachnids
Araneomorphs
Most New Zealand spiders are araneomorphs. Their fangs move sideways (imagine your thumb and forefinger coming together) rather than up and down like the mygalomorphs’.
Part of story: Spiders and other arachnids
Mygalomorphs – tarantula relatives
Only about 10% of New Zealand spiders are mygalomorphs, but this group includes some of the more spectacular species.