Cork-lid trapdoor spiders

Halonoproctidae

Classification

Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Halonoproctidae

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Halonoproctidae: /həˌloʊnəˈprɒktɪdiː/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Images

TrapDoorSpiderOnAStick by Davefoc. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

TrapDoorSpiderDorsal by Davefoc. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

TrapDoorSpiderFrontPenny by Davefoc. Used under a CC BY 3.0 license.

Harvesting ants and trap-door spiders supp. plate 15 - Cteniza Californica by John Traherne Moggridge (1842-1874). Used under a Public domain license.

Cyclocosmia sp. in burrow (Marshal Hedin) by Marshal Hedin. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.5 license.

PSM V38 D205 Cyclocosmia truncata by Unknown authorUnknown author. Used under a Public domain license.

Summary

Halonoproctidae, or cork-lid trapdoor spiders, are a family of mygalomorph spiders characterized by their burrow construction with trapdoors. They are predominantly insectivorous and are notable for their unique physical adaptations, including specialized spines and spinnerets.

Physical Characteristics

Medium to large spiders (10 - 30 mm) with a color range from light brown to black, typically without distinctive markings. The carapace is hairless with few spines, and the sternum is longer than wide. Females lack scopulae but have curved spines on legs I and II, while males possess scopulae and prominent spines on their anterior legs. Two pairs of spinnerets are present: short unsegmented posterior median and longer segmented posterior lateral spinnerets.

Identification Tips

Look for the silk-lined burrows with a hinged trapdoor that is camouflaged with debris. Males may wander in search of prey, while females rarely leave their burrows.

Habitat

Burrows with trapdoors in various environments across their distribution range.

Distribution

Widely distributed in North and Central America, Australasia, Asia, southern Europe, and North Africa. One species recorded from Venezuela in South America.

Diet

Predominantly insectivorous, they rush out to capture prey upon sensing vibrations.

Reproduction

Females rarely leave burrows, and specific details on reproductive habits are not provided.

Ecosystem Role

As predators, they help maintain the insect population in their ecosystems by capturing various insects.

Evolution

Originally described as the subfamily Halonoproctinae of Ctenizidae by R. I. Pocock in 1901. Elevated to family status in 2018 after molecular studies revealed monophyly.

Similar Taxa

Ctenizidae