cobweb spiders vs North Atlantic right whale

Steatoda grossa compared with Eubalaena glacialis

Key Differences

• cobweb spiders is Least Concern while North Atlantic right whale is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	cobweb spiders	North Atlantic right whale
Kingdom same	Animalia (動物)	Animalia (動物)
Phylum	Arthropoda (節足動物)	Chordata (脊索動物)
Class	Arachnida (クモガタ類)	Mammalia (哺乳類)
Order	Araneae (クモ目)	Cetacea (Whales & Dolphins)
Family	Theridiidae	Balaenidae
Genus	Steatoda	Eubalaena
Species	Steatoda grossa	Eubalaena glacialis

Evolutionary Relationship

cobweb spiders and North Atlantic right whale share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (動物)

Conservation Status

cobweb spiders

LC — Least Concern

North Atlantic right whale

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	cobweb spiders	North Atlantic right whale
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

cobweb spiders

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial habitats from forests to deserts.

Range

Widely distributed across Africa (South Africa), Europe (29 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Ecuador).

North Atlantic right whale

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

cobweb spiders

The false black widow (Steatoda grossa) is a cosmopolitan cobweb spider in the family Theridiidae, often mistaken for the true black widow due to its similarly dark, globose abdomen, though it lacks the red hourglass marking. Females reach 6–10 millimeters in body length and display a deep purplish-brown to nearly black coloration with faint pale markings on the dorsal abdomen. Originally native to western Europe, Steatoda grossa has spread globally through human commerce, establishing populations in Australia, New Zealand, North America, and other regions where it thrives in human structures including homes, sheds, and outbuildings. The spider constructs a persistent, tangled cobweb in sheltered corners and recesses, where it captures woodlice, ants, beetles, and other arthropods—notably targeting invertebrates that many other spiders avoid. The venom of S. grossa causes steatodism, a syndrome of localized pain, sweating, and systemic discomfort that is rarely serious but can cause significant distress. Interestingly, the antivenin produced for Latrodectus (true widow) spider bites has been shown to effectively treat Steatoda envenomations, underscoring the phylogenetic relatedness of these genera. Females produce several egg sacs during a season, each containing dozens of eggs wrapped in distinctive silken cocoons. The species is classified as Least Concern given its expanding global distribution facilitated by human activity.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden