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Kōrero: Evolution of plants and animals

Black tunnel-web spider

Black tunnel-web spider

Only about 10% of New Zealand spiders are Mygalomorphs, which are a primitive group of spiders. Most New Zealand spiders are the more advanced Araneomorphs. The Mygalomorph group includes some of the more spectacular large spiders such as the black tunnel-web spider (Porrhothele antipodiana) which is related to tunnel-web spiders in Australia. New Zealand has about 1,100 named species of spiders, most of which are endemic (only found in New Zealand).

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Private collection

by Simon Pollard

This item has been provided for private study purposes (such as school projects, family and local history research) and any published reproduction (print or electronic) may infringe copyright law. It is the responsibility of the user of any material to obtain clearance from the copyright holder.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Matt McGlone, Evolution of plants and animals – Split from Gondwana, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/12423/black-tunnel-web-spider (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Matt McGlone, i tāngia i te 1 March 2009.

Comments

Ian Surgenor
25 November 2021
The black tunnel web spider definitely is not harmless. Recently while clearing our garden I removed a dry semi-rotten log. While carrying it to the rubbish pile I was bitten on finger. I dropped the log and the spider fell out of the cavity where my hand had been. It was quite a painful bite very similar to a wasp sting. Within minutes there was slight swelling around the bite area. The swelling subsided after a few hours but the finger was itchy for 2 or 3 days. Unfortunately I automatically reacted by standing on the spider to kill it. Two family members witnessed the incident. I googled and identified the spider while its image was fresh in my mind. It was definitely a tunnel web.