Family Ctenizidae - Cork-lid trapdoor spiders

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Print References · Works Cited

Ravine Trapdoor Spider - Cyclocosmia truncata - female

ID please - Bothriocyrtum californicum - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Arachnida (Arachnids)

Order Araneae (Spiders)

Infraorder Mygalomorphae (Mygalomorphs)

Family Ctenizidae (Cork-lid trapdoor spiders)

Explanation of Names

"Trapdoor spiders" because they make their homes in tubelike burrows completely lined with silk. They cut a lid which is attached on one side, like a hinged trapdoor. The top of the lid is camouflaged with debris. When they feel the vibration of prey, they rush out to capture it, then return to the burrow. Females rarely leave their burrows, but males may be found wandering in search of prey.

Size

10 - 30 mm

Print References

Spiders and Their Kin(1)

Works Cited

1.	Spiders and Their Kin: A Golden Guide from St. Martin's Press By Herbert W. Levi, Lorna R. Levi, Nicholas Strekalovsky

Contributed by john and jane balaban on 10 September, 2004 - 5:45pm
Additional contributions by Hannah Nendick-Mason, Jeff Hollenbeck
Last updated 27 October, 2007 - 2:58pm

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