trapdoor spider

trapdoor spider, any of numerous species of large bodied, burrowing spiders found across several taxonomic families. Trapdoor spiders construct burrows in the ground, the entrance of which features a silken-hinged door. The reclusive spider feeds by quickly opening the trap door and grabbing an insect or other arthropod that is passing close by. Trapdoor spiders are generally timid and quickly retreat into the burrow if frightened; their bite is not considered medically significant to humans. As is the case for the majority of the world’s terrestrial invertebrates, however, the conservation status of most species of trapdoor spider has not been assessed. Trapdoor spiders typically do not disperse far from their mother’s burrow, making populations vulnerable to human development or other land-use changes.