Nelson cave spider  (Spelungula cavernicola)

Description

As New Zealand’s largest spider, with an enormous 13 cm leg-span, this species is a startling sight in the limestone caves of the Nelson region where it lives (2) (3). These long-legged spiders are a mottled light brown colour and have very long claws on the first two pairs of legs (2) (4). Extremely rare, the Nelson cave spider is New Zealand's only protected species of spider (3).

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