Huntsman

Fact Box Species: Isopeda queenslandensis (Identification verified by David Hirst, SA Museum - see below) Family: Sparassidae formerly Heteropodidae Body length: female: 40 mm male: 32 mm Habitat: Normally under loose bark but may enter houses at night Toxicity: Uncertain; may cause mild problems so handle with caution

Side view

Identification of this species is not easy because it is now known to have several very similar relatives. Probably the most often mentioned representative of the genus Isopeda is Isopeda vasta, which is also found in south-east Queensland. What appears to be the same species is shown on the Australian Museum website and in Trevor Hawkeswood's "Spiders of Australia" as Isopeda villosa, and this is an accepted NSW species name. Isopeda montana is another very similar spider that can be found in Victoria. In Bert Brunet's 1996 Spiderwatch book there is a photo bearing the title Holconia vasta and Ed Nieuwenhuys' spider website shows another similar spider with the name Heteropoda venatoria.

Known range: Recorded in Rockhampton but common from Gladstone to Northern NSW.

Spider(s) with a very similar appearance: Other huntsman species but especially Isopeda vasta.