Polynesian rat vs Spitting Spider

Rattus exulans compared with Scytodes thoracica

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Polynesian rat	Spitting Spider
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Araneae (Araneae)
Family	Muridae (Mice & Rats)	Scytodidae
Genus	Rattus	Scytodes
Species	Rattus exulans	Scytodes thoracica

Evolutionary Relationship

Polynesian rat and Spitting Spider share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Polynesian rat

LC — Least Concern

Spitting Spider

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Polynesian rat	Spitting Spider
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Polynesian rat

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, and tropical and subtropical coniferous forests, among 4 distinct biome types spanning the Australasia and Indomalayan realms. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (6 countries), Europe (United Kingdom), North America (United States), Oceania and the Pacific (11 countries), and South America (Chile).

Spitting Spider

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial habitats from forests to deserts.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Asia (Taiwan), Europe (28 countries), and North America (Canada, United States).

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇹🇼 Taiwan 🇬🇧 United Kingdom 🇺🇸 United States