Spider Resources
There are thousands of sites on the Internet that have information about spiders. The best way to start exploring them is to begin locally.
Victorian Spiders, written by Dr Ken Walker at Museum Victoria, has a lot of information about spiders found in Victoria together with games and other activities.
Queensland Museum has a 'spooky' Spiders website. The Australia Museum has spider fact sheets.
Australian Spiders website features Queensland species and lots more general information.
With over 1000 links to other sites and a must for everyone interested in spiders is the Arachnology site.
For more detailed information on characteristics and identification, visit the Arthropod Identification site at Discover Life, University of Georgia.
For information on various venomous animals in Victoria (Australia) visit:
Audio Visual Resources
Australian Centre for the Moving Image (formerly Cinemedia) has a number of Video resources available for loan to teachers.
The Gould League has a wide range of audio and written resources suitable for primary and secondary students, including books, posters and software. Gould Leage web site: http://www.gould.edu.au
General references
Walker, K.L. and Milledge, G.A. 1992. Spiders Commonly Found in Melbourne and Surrounding Regions, Melbourne: Royal Society of Victoria.
Walker, K.L. (2003) Spiders and Scorpions Commonly Found in Victoria, The Royal Society of Victoria
Features the thirty species of spider commonly found in Victoria and the nine Australian species of scorpions.
Davies, V.T. (1986). Australian Spiders, Queensland Museum, Brisbane.
Clyne, D. (1969). A Guide to Australian Spiders, Nelson, Melbourne.
Harvey, M.S. and Yen, A.L. (1989). Worms to Wasps, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Gray, M R (1993). Some common spiders in Australia, Bayer Australia: Australia.
Gray, M.R. (1978). Silk, Spinnerets and Snares, Australian Natural History 19: 228.
Main, B.Y. (1976). Spiders, Collins, Sydney.
Mascord, R. (1980). Spiders of Australia. A Field Guide , Reed Sydney.
Mascord, R. (1970). Australian Spiders in Colour, Reed, Sydney.
Rennie, L and McClafferty, T (1995). Don't compare, complement: Making the best use of Science Centres and Museums, in SET: Research Information for Teachers, No. 1.
Readers Digest (1988). Australia’s dangerous creatures, Readers Digest Services Pty Ltd: Australia
Advanced References
Foelix, R.F. (1982). The Biology of Spiders, Harvard University Press, Massachusetts.
R. Preston-Mafham, R and K (1984). Spiders of the world, Bandford Press: UK.
V. Southcott (1978). Australian harmful Arachnids and their allies. R. V. Southcott, 2 Taylors Rd, Mitcham, S. Australia, 5062.
Sutherland, S.K. (1983). Australian Animal Toxins, Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
Contact Organisations
Australasian Arachnology. Contact: Richard Faulder, Agricultural Institute, Yanco, NSW 2703 Email: faulder@agric.nsw.gov.au
Entomological Society of Victoria. Contact: Daniel Dobrosak, 66 Wiltonvale Ave, Hoppers Crossing 3029.
Field Naturalists Club of Victoria. Contact: National Herbarium, Birdwood Ave, South Yarra. Vic. 3141.
