Which Spiders Are Endangered?
WouterSpiders are arachnids, generalist predators found in a wide variety of habitats. They are generally not dangerous to humans, but some species are threatened by pet trade, deforestation and other environmental factors.
A few spiders have been listed as endangered. In addition, several have been recognized as rare. Some of the more endangered species include the spruce-fir moss spider and the katipo spider.
Spruce-fir moss spiders are small tarantulas that build tube-shaped webs between trees and moss. They live in the high-elevation forests of eastern Tennessee and eastern North Carolina.
The spruce-fir moss is protected under the Endangered Species Act. However, this spider has been found only at four sites. It is believed that the species is only a few thousand in the wild.
Another species of spider that is threatened by deforestation is the katipo spider. This spider is related to the widow spider and the Australian redback spider. It lives in burrows in the forest and in trees. The name “katipo” means “night-stinger” in the native Maori language.
The katipo is threatened by forest clearance and is considered critically endangered. Although the population is estimated to be between a few thousand and a few million, the habitat is being destroyed.
The European Union also protects the Gibraltar funnel-web spider, which lives in the Southern Iberian Peninsula. This spider is protected by the Bern Convention and the European Union Habitats Directive.
The Fish and Wildlife Service also lists the Kauai cave wolf spider as an endangered species. The spider has a venomous fang and hunts its prey directly. The Kauai cave wolf spider is endemic to Hawaii and reproduces infrequently. Its habitat is destroyed by agricultural activities and resort development.
