Trapdoor+Spider-Anzac



Trapdoor Spiders By   Anzac Chambers ** Introduction: ** A Trapdoor Spider is an arachnid. Unlike other spiders, they dig underground burrows with two entrances: both with a trapdoor. That’s how they got their name. Their scientific name is **// Ctenizoidea //** or a Misgollas Spider. ** Anatomy: **

A Trapdoor Spider has two body parts, an abdomen and a head. Their eyes are in two compact rows and they also have two blunt spinnerets. Males have a small double spur half way along their front legs. Various types of Trapdoor Spiders are found worldwide in warm tropical areas. There could be some in your back yard! Maybe one day you could go outside with a stick and poke at any circle shaped things on the ground. If it’s a burrow the spider will attack the stick! Brown Trapdoor Spiders are often mistaken for Funnel Web Spiders but their bites are not dangerous. They’ll eat any insect that comes across their burrow. The spider sits in its burrow out of sight under the trapdoor. When it feels the vibrations on the ground of an insect coming it jumps out and grabs it!
 * Habitat: **
 * Feeding and Defence: **


 * Beetle Trapdoor spider ** ** Kangaroo  Crocodile **

** Mating and Reproduction: ** Males will wander during humid weather looking for a mate. Mating takes place in the female’s burrow. To avoid getting eaten he tries to mate with lots of the females before he dies. ** Life Cycle: ** The female will lay her eggs several months after mating and protects them in her burrow. When the spiderlings hatch they will stay with their mum for a few months then they go out into the big wide world to build burrows of their own. Year by year as they get bigger they extend their burrows so they don’t get squashed. When the males are mature they go out in search of a mate. Females stay in and around their burrows waiting for a mate.


 * Did you know?? **
 * There are about 120 species of Trapdoor Spiders.




 * Their size ranges from 2.5cm to 4.5cm in diameter, with the largest up to 12cm (including legs)
 * They make their trapdoor out of silk and the surrounding vegetation.
 * Females live between 5 and 20 years!
 * Trapdoor Spiders are not poisonious but if they bite you it ** will **hurt.