The Jewel Spider also called a Spiny Spider or a Christmas Spider (Astracantha minax, previously Gasteracantha minax), is a medium-sized spider. The female is about 10 mm across its abdomen, and the male around 5 mm. It has 6 spines on its round, hard abdomen, giving it a crab-like appearance, and is very brightly coloured, with red legs. On its abdomen it has yellow and white spots on a black background. These spiders are said to rarely bite, and if they do, the poison normally only causes a localised reaction. Care should always be taken, especially for those who may have severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

They are endemic to Australia, as well as some of our neighbouring islands. They are said to be common in all states, except for the Northern Territory (which has the least number of sightings).


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Chelicerata
  • Class: Arachnida
  • Order: Araneae
  • Infraorder: Araneomorphae
  • Family: Araneidae
  • Genus: Austracantha
  • Species: Austracantha minax
  • Subspecies:
    • Austracantha minax astrigera (L. Koch, 1871)
    • Austracantha minax leonhardii (Strand, 1913)
    • Austracantha minax lugubris (L. Koch, 1871)

Footnote & References

  1. Austracantha minax (Thorell, 1859), Atlast of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/e453dbf4-ac86-44b6-8776-de892b568f51
  2. Meet the Australian Spider with a thing for Christmas – The Christmas Spider – Austracantha minax, by Rafael Louzeiro, 12 Dec 2019, Integrate Sustainability, https://www.integratesustainability.com.au/2019/12/12/meet-the-australian-spider-with-a-thing-for-christmas-the-christmas-spider-austracantha-minax/

SpidersIndex of Spider Images Spiders in Australia Araneidae — Orb Weavers Arkys Australian Huntsman Spider Barking Spider Black House Spider Carepalxis sp Celaenia sp Crab Spiders Deinopidae — Net-casting Spiders Dolomedes sp Dolophones sp Flower Spiders Hackled Orbweavers (Uloboridae) Jewel Spider Jumping Spider Long Jawed Spider (Tetragnatha sp) Lynx Spider (Oxyopes) Mangrovia albida Maratus volans Missulena occatoria (Red-headed Mouse Spider) Miturgidae Nicodamidae (Red and Black Spider) Ogre-faced Net-casting Spider Poltys sp (Twig Spider) Redback Spider Scorpion-tailed Spider (Arachnura higginsi) Thomisidae Tiger Spider (Trichonephila plumipes) White-spotted Swift Spider (Nyssus albopunctatus) Wolf Spider