General Description
Body colour varies, including shades of brown with flecked or mottled patterns. Some species with white spots or stripes on the body. Long legs, outstretched and straight when floating. Body up to 3 cm long.
Biology
Water Spiders can walk on water due to hairs on their feet. They can also dive and swim beneath the surface to catch prey. They can be aggressive and bite in self defence.
Distribution
South-western, northern and eastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.
Habitat
Edges of swamps, marshes, creeks, ponds and other areas of water.
More Information
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Animal Type
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Animal SubType
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Brief Id
Legs usually outstretched, colour varies, flecked or mottled patterns, sometimes white spots or stripes.
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Colours
Brown
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Habitats
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Where To Look
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Diet
Carnivore
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Diet Categories
Invertebrates, Fish
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Hazards
Can be aggressive and bite in self defence. Painful bite, but only a local reaction (may include redness, swelling, burning or itching at site of bite).
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Endemicity
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Conservation Statuses
CITES: Not listed, FFG Threatened List: Not listed, EPBC Act 1999: Not listed, IUCN Red List: Not listed
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Web
Hunter
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Taxon Name
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Common Name
Water Spider
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Kingdom
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Phylum
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Subphylum
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Class
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Order
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