A group of scientists in Western Australia have discovered a species of social huntsman spiders who enjoy living together.
Spiders tend to live together as spiderlings, but staying together as adults isn't common.
Ecologist Angela Sanders from Bush Heritage Australia made the discovery in November when she was looking for possums in nesting boxes in restored habitat.
"It all started about the same time we were finding pygmy possums in the boxes, but on lifting the lids of some we found many huntsman spiders of all sizes whizzing around inside," she wrote on the Bush Heritage website.
"We now know that they're a species of huntsman that live together, normally under the bark of trees. In the restored area tree bark is in short supply at present and they've found the wooden boxes suitable."
She said a single female adult will lay eggs and the successive generations of siblings help each other and share prey items.
Curtin University spider expert Leanda Mason told ABC News family connections weren't usual in the spider world.
"This particular species is quite social," Dr Mason said.
"The mother and her offspring will hang out. There's generally one reproductive female, [and] as the other females approach adulthood, they leave or get eaten."
Cornell University entomologist Dr Linda Rayor said there are benefits to spiders and animals living together.
"There's all sorts of advantages layered on - they grow faster, they're healthier, they have better survival, they're bigger," she told News.com.au.
There are 94 species of huntsman spider in Australia, according to The Australian Museum.
The female of the species can grow up to 15cm wide.
