Rob Raven

Having named more new trapdoor, funnelweb and tarantula (mygalomorph) species than any person, living or dead, Robert Raven is in a good position to discuss the scientific horrors of Australian tarantulas, our biggest spiders. Internationally “christened” by a year in the American Museum of Natural History, New York, followed by a year in Canberra, Robert set his mark on the world stage early.

After an earlier fascination with the mygalomorphs spiders, he more recently focused on the very diverse (and simpler) group of small spiders that hunt on the ground, including the Toad-killing Racing Stripe spiders (Miturgidae), the beautiful and delicate Ant-mimicking spiders (Corinnidae) and the Fish and Toad-killed Water spiders (Pisauridae), one of which just last year was named after World Science Festival founder Professor Brian Greene.

Robert Raven appears with thanks to Presenting Partner Queensland Museum Network.

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