COMMON SPIDERS

OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
Southern Africa has well over 2,200 known species of spiders with very few that are of medical importance.
Most ‘spider bites’ are not spider bites but wounds caused by infections and other invertebrates.
There has never been a fatal spider bite in Southern Africa.

Neurotoxic venom M E D I C A L LY Neurotoxic venom M E D I C A L LY Cytotoxic venom M E D I C A L LY Cytotoxic venom M E D I C A L LY

SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT SIGNIFICANT
Black Button Spider Brown Button Spider Violin Spider Long-legged Sac Spider Photo Niela du Preez
(Latrodectus indistinctus) (Latrodectus geometricus) Photo Niela du Preez (Loxosceles simillima) (Cheiracanthium furculatum)

N OT N OT N OT N OT
DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS
Tropical Tent Web Spider Baboon Spider Wolf Spider Hairy Field Spider
(Cyrtophora citricola) Photo Niela du Preez (Harpactira hamiltoni) Photo Niela du Preez (Hogna sp.) Photo Niela du Preez (Neoscona rapta) Photo Niela du Preez

N OT N OT N OT N OT
DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS
Banded-legged Golden Orb Spider Fishing Spider Lynx Spider Rain Spider
(Nephila senegalensis) (Nilus radiatolineatus) Photo Niela du Preez (Oxyopes sp.) Photo Niela du Preez (Palystes sp.)

N OT N OT N OT N OT
DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS
Scorpion Spider Nursery Web Spider Spitting Spider Jumping Spider

© Johan Marais African Snakebite Institute

(Platyoides walteri) Photo Niela du Preez (Rothus sp.) Photo Niela du Preez (Scytodes sp.) (Thyene ogdeni) Photo Niela du Preez

N OT N OT N OT N OT
DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS DANGEROUS
Daddy Long Legs False Button Spider False House Button Spider Flower Crab Spider
(Smeringopus natalensis) Photo Niela du Preez (Steatoda capensis) Photo Niela du Preez (Theridion sp.) Photo Niela du Preez (Thomisus kalaharinus) Photo Niela du Preez

NOTE For suspected spider bites, keep the wound

clean and consult a medical doctor.
EMERGENCY PROTOCOL
BITEs from MEDICALLY SIGNIFICANT
JOHAN MARAIS is the author of various books on reptiles including the best-seller A Complete sPIDERs must be treated as ... apply a tourniquet.
DO NOT

Guide to Snakes of Southern Africa. He is a popular public speaker and offers a variety of courses
a medical emergency. ... cut and suck the wound.
including Snake Awareness, Spider Awareness and Venomous Snake Handling. Johan ... use ice or very hot water.
is accredited by the International Society of Zoological Sciences (ISZS) and is a Field Guides 1 Transport the victim to hospital without delay. ... give the victim alcohol.
Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) and Travel Doctor-approved service provider. ... apply electric shock.
2 Immobilize the affected limb to slow the spread of venom. ... inject antivenom randomly.

Johan Marais | African Snakebite Institute 3 If the victim stops breathing, apply artificial respiration Antivenom (if required) must
or use a Bag Valve Mask. be administered by a doctor
+27 82 494 2039 | [email protected]
4 Call the Poison Information Centre helpline for further in a hospital environment.
www. AFRICANSNAKEBITEINSTITUTE .com advice: 0861 555 777.