Usually known as the whip spider, although this name is also used for another arachnid and could lead to confusion. Found in Australia, this spider has a long, thin abdomen similar to a snake’s body, hence its species name colubrinus, which means “snake-like”. Its unusual appearance is an example of camouflage. By looking like a small twig caught in spider silk, it escapes notice by most predators, and is less easily spotted by its prey. The whip spider belongs to the same family as the dangerous black widow. It is not known how potent the whip spider’s venom really is, but it is usually regarded as harmless due to its docile nature and short chelicerae (fangs)