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Australia's Redback Spider

One of Australia's best-lmown spiders is the Redback Spider Latrodectus hasseltii , a close relative of America's Black Widow Spider.  It is easily identified by the wonderfully striking orange/red slash on its glossy black (sometimes brown) body.  The Redback Spider was immortalised in Slim Newton’s 1972 hit song Redback on the Toilet Seat:                     There was a Redbnck on the toilet seat                        When I was there last night,                        I didn't see him in the dark but boy                        I felt his bite. It Probably wasn't a male spider that bit the man in the toilet. Only the female that bites. A male redback is only about a tenth of the female's size.  He has fangs but they usually can't p...