Caladenia caudata is a terrestrial, perennial, deciduous, herb with an underground tuber and a single densely hairy, broad linear to lance-shaped leaf.

[2][3] Caladenia caudata was first formally described by William Henry Nicholls in 1948 and the description was published in The Victorian Naturalist.

[4] This caladenia is widespread in Tasmania, where it grows in dry heath and grassy open woodland in coastal and near-coastal areas.

[2][5][6] Tailed spider orchid is thought to be pollinated by the thynnid wasp, Lophocheilus villosus.

Much of the habitat favoured by this orchid has been cleared for agriculture, individuals are often difficult to find and tend to flower infrequently, often in response to disturbance such as burning.