Wolf SpiderWolf Spider (Allocosa sp) Wolf Spider (Venatrix arenaris)
The Wolf Spider (Venatrix arenaris) is a common species usually found along bodies of water including rivers, streams, lakes, waterholes and ponds in Australia.
One of two species in the genus Venatrix, Venatrix arenaris can be found in the arid regions of Central Australia, only near water.
The wolf spider are unique in how they carry their eggs around. The eggs are carried in a round silken globe shaped egg sac that is attached to the spinnerets at the end of the abdomen. Also unique to the wolf spiders is how they care for their young. Once the spiderlings emerge from the egg sac, they all climb onto the dorsal side of the mother’s abdomen. The mother spider will carry the young for several weeks, until they are able to fend for themselves.
Whilst some species of the wolf spiders have been seen to appear to walk across water, they usually walk quickly across water, as they can drown.
Many thanks to Narelle Murphy from Australian spider identification page (on Facebook) for identifying this spider for us.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Chelicerata
- Class: Arachnida
- Order: Araneae
- Infraorder: Araneomorphae
- Superfamily: Lycosoidea
- Family: Lycosidae
- Genus: Venatrix
- Species: Venatrix arenaris
Footnote & References
- Wolf spider (Venatrix arenaris), Narelle Murphy, Australian spider identification page, www.facebook.com/groups/1743343242607376
- LYCOSIDAE Wolf spiders, Arachne.org.au, www.arachne.org.au
- Wolf spider, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf_spider (last visited May 20, 2021).
- Venatrix arenaris, female with eggsac (Gwambigyne Pool Reserve, WA) – River Huntress, Volker Framenau, flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/australianspiders/4517342005
SpidersIndex of Spider Images Spiders in Australia Araneidae — Orb Weavers Arkys Australian Huntsman Spider Barking Spider Black House Spider Carepalxis sp Celaenia sp Crab Spiders Deinopidae — Net-casting Spiders Dolomedes sp Dolophones sp Flower Spiders Hackled Orbweavers (Uloboridae) Jewel Spider Jumping Spider Long Jawed Spider (Tetragnatha sp) Lynx Spider (Oxyopes) Mangrovia albida Maratus volans Missulena occatoria (Red-headed Mouse Spider) Miturgidae Nicodamidae (Red and Black Spider) Ogre-faced Net-casting Spider Poltys sp (Twig Spider) Redback Spider Scorpion-tailed Spider (Arachnura higginsi) Thomisidae Tiger Spider (Trichonephila plumipes) White-spotted Swift Spider (Nyssus albopunctatus) Wolf Spider