Common name : Black tunnelweb spider
Scientific name : Porrhothele antipodiana
Family : Hexathelidae
Native to : New Zealand & Chatham Islands
Interesting fact : This spider is said to be the inspiration behind the portrayal of the scary ‘SHELOB’ in the movie ‘Lord of the Rings’.
Over 50 mm in length, including the legs, this large spider is often found under logs and rocks. They have been spotted indoors near bathroom areas. Their diet consists of beetles, snails, millipedes and mice. It weaves a silk tunnel to catch its prey. As soon as a prey crosses the tunnel, the spider moves forward to crush its prey and drag it back into the tunnel. In the springtime, the male leaves the burrow in order to find a suitable mate.
