| Bio: |
The katipo or red katipo (Latrodectus katipo) is a vulnerable, venomous spider native to New Zealand. It is a widow spider and is related to the black katipo, the Australian red-back spider, and the USA's black widow spiders. The katipo has also been sighted in parts of California. Katipo is a Mâori name and means "night-stinger".
The katipo's natural habitat is typically under logs or other wood, especially near beaches. This narrow habitat along with their rareness, general non-aggressiveness (they bite as a last resort) and human awareness of where they live, means the incidence of katipo bites is very low. If bitten, redback antivenom is an effective treatment and is available from major New Zealand hospitals. Only two fatalities from katipo bite have been recorded in modern times.[1]
The katipo is particularly notable in New Zealand as the nation is almost entirely devoid of dangerous native wildlife. This unique status has lead to the spider becoming well-known, despite sightings being very rare.
Their rarity didn?t stop me from being bitten.
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