Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Arachnids (Arachnida) » Spiders (Araneae) » Mygalomorphs (Mygalomorphae)

Infraorder Mygalomorphae - Mygalomorphs

Promyrmekiaphila sp. trapdoor spider - Promyrmekiaphila

A California Tarantula - Aphonopelma - male

Black purseweb spider (Sphodros niger) - Sphodros niger

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Araneae (Spiders)

Infraorder Mygalomorphae (Mygalomorphs)

Remarks

This is a more primitive group of spiders which includes the infamous tarantulas, primarily represented by members of Family Theraphosidae.

Some other familiar members include the trapdoor spiders and purseweb spiders.

Mygalomorphs are easily distinguished from Araneomorphs by two pairs or four booklungs.

Their fangs and chelicerae are parallel to the axis of the body.

Contributed by Jeff Hollenbeck on 29 March, 2006 - 11:58pm
Last updated 28 March, 2008 - 10:23pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2009 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by Iowa State University Entomology.