Definition of katipo in English:
katipo
nounPlural katipos ˈkatɪpəʊ
A highly venomous New Zealand spider which is black with a red spot on the back, closely related to the American black widow.
Latrodectus mactans katipo, family Theridiidae
Example sentencesExamples
- Unlike many other beaches, Uretiti's sand dunes were largely intact and grasses such as pingao and spinifex grew on the dunes which were ideal for katipo to build insect-snaring webs on.
- The katipo spider is a coastal sand dune specialist, and is mostly found on the dunes of warm sandy beaches.
- Today, however, the likelihood of being bitten by katipo is becoming increasingly remote, as this icon of our coastal dune systems is rapidly disappearing.
- The red katipo is endangered because its habitats are being destroyed by forestry.
- Like others of this kind, the katipo lives for only a year, just time to produce the next year's generation.
Origin
Mid 19th century: from Maori.