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Redback Spider

Arachnids

The redback spider, Latrodectus hasselti, also known as the Australian black widow, is a highly venomous spider believed to originate in Australia and now also found in Southeast Asia, Japan and New Zealand, as well as in isolated colonies elsewhere reached through packing crates. The adult female is easily recognised by her spherical black body with a prominent red stripe on the upper side of the abdomen and an hourglass-shaped red or orange streak beneath, measuring about ten millimetres, while males are much smaller at three to four millimetres. Mainly nocturnal, the female lives in an untidy web in a warm sheltered location, often near or inside human dwellings, and preys on insects, spiders and small vertebrates that become ensnared; its bite causes the syndrome of latrodectism in humans, and an antivenom has been available since 1956.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Parasitic 2
System (Realm)
Terrestrial 3
Relationship to People
Venomous or Dangerous to Humans 4
Identification
Distinguishing Appearance
Adult female has a spherical black body with a prominent red stripe on the upper side of the abdomen 1
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Not Listed 5
Scientific Name
Latrodectus hasselti 1
Conservation Status
Not Evaluated 6
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Black Widow Spider, Species
Source Wikidata: Redback Spider

In Biome

Chaparral, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Latrodectus hasselti
Desert, Biomes
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Latrodectus hasselti

In Ecosystem

Simpson Desert, Ecosystems
Source Wikipedia: Redback spider
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Australia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Belgium

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Japan

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Norway

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Papua New Guinea

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

South Asia

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Sources
1. Wikipedia: Redback spider
  • Lead, sentence 1
    The redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti)
  • Lead, sentence 3
    The adult female is easily recognised by her spherical black body with a prominent red stripe on the upper side of her abdomen
  • In Ecosystem: Simpson Desert, Distribution and habitat
    Outside urban areas, the redback is more often found in drier habitats ranging from sclerophyll forest to desert, even as harsh as the Simpson Desert.
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Redback Spider
  • Wikidata Q82544, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)
  • Introduction
  • Child Taxon Of: Black Widow Spider, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q385932 (Black Widow Spider)
View the Source
3. GBIF Species API
GBIF Species APIView the Source
4. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Animal Diversity Web: Latrodectus hasselti
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
    Redback spiders are one of the most dangerous spiders in Australia.
  • In Biome: Desert, Habitat Regions, biome: desert or dune
    desert or dune desert or dune
  • In Biome: Chaparral, Habitat Regions, biome: chaparral
    chaparral chaparral
View the Source
5. UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Arachnida
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 27
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 27
"cites_listing":"II/III/NC","eu_listing":"B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Arachnida","order":null,"family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"Scorpions And Spiders","language":"EN"},{"name":"Araignées","language":"FR"},{"name":"Arañas","language":"ES"},{"name":"蛛形纲","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source
6. GBIF (IUCN Red List category): GBIF IUCN Red List category for Latrodectus hasselti
GBIF (IUCN Red List category)GBIF taxon key 2157928, category field
Quote, GBIF taxon key 2157928, category field
"category": "NOT_EVALUATED"
View the Source
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
International Union for Conservation of NatureView the Source
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat): Species+: Araneae
UNEP-WCMC Species+ database (CITES Secretariat)Species+ taxon_concepts, id 82
Quote, Species+ taxon_concepts, id 82
"cites_listing":"II/III/NC","eu_listing":"B/C/NC","higher_taxa":{"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Arthropoda","class":"Arachnida","order":"Araneae","family":null},"synonyms":[],"common_names":[{"name":"蛛形目","language":"ZH"}],"cites_listings":[]
View the Source
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