| Delena cancerides | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Family: | Sparassidae |
| Genus: | Delena |
| Species: | D. cancerides |
| Binomial name | |
| Delena cancerides Walckenaer, 1837 |
|
Delena cancerides, the flat huntsman spider or social huntsman spider, is a large, brown huntsman spider native to Australia. It has been introduced to New Zealand, where it is sometimes known as the Avondale spider.[1] This was the species used in the beginning of the movie Spider-Man and widely in Arachnophobia, but it is generally considered harmless to humans.[2]
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Highly unusual among spiders, the flat huntsman spider is a social species, even sharing prey.[1] They are often found under loose bark (their flat shape is an adaption for this) in colonies up to 300, but they are highly aggressive and commonly cannibalistic toward members from other colonies.[3] They hunt their food rather than spin webs for it. They are timid towards humans and bites are infrequent, and when they occur, symptoms are usually very minor.[4]
The species is found all over Australia, including Tasmania, and is quite common in South Australia. It was accidentally found in 1924. Its range in New Zealand has expanded only slowly out of Avondale, a suburb of Auckland, hence the alternative New Zealand common name.[1] Species have been found as far down the country as the Otago region.
The body of the spider may be up to 4.5 centimetres (1.8 in) long,[1] is light brown and covered in dense, fine hairs. The legs are also hairy, and can have a span up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in).[2] Females are larger than males.
Various populations show major differences in the chromosomes, leading to the recognition of several "chromosomal subspecies", but these hybridize where in contact and there is little genetic divergence.[1]