Social Huntsman

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Social Huntsman - Alan Henderson (Minibeast Wildlife)

Delena cancerides

Body grey-brown, very flat and large. Females up to 4 cm in length and males up to 2 cm in length. Head dark orange to red brown.

Details
Type
Invertebrate
Group
Animals
Arachnid - Spider
Other Common Names
Flat Huntsman
Biology

Eggs are held in a flattened circular egg sac made of papery white silk. The spiderlings do not disperse but stay and grow within the colony. They usually live for one or two seasons.
Distinctive Markings

Large, flat body. Tips of legs dark with front legs longer than the back legs.
Taxonomy
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Arachnida
Order
Araneae
Family
Sparassidae
Genus
Delena
Species
cancerides
Found throughout Australia, including across Victoria.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

This is the largest of the huntsman spiders. It can live in groups of hundreds of individuals.

Interesting Facts
Diet

Carnivore. Eats insects and other invertebrates.
Habitat

Lives in crevices and under the loose bark of trees and within logs.
Native Status
Native to Australia