| Brushed-footed trap-door spiders Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Sason colemani from Australia | |
| | |
| Sason robustum with nest | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Clade: | Avicularioidea |
| Family: | Barychelidae Simon, 1889 |
| Diversity | |
| 39 genera, 285 species | |
| | |
Barychelidae, also known as brushed trapdoor spiders, is a spider family with about 300 species in 39 genera. [1]
Most spiders in this family build trapdoor burrows. For example, the 20 millimetres (0.79 in) long Sipalolasma builds its burrow in rotted wood, with a hinged trapdoor at each end. The 10 millimetres (0.39 in) long Idioctis builds its burrow approximately 5 centimetres (2.0 in) deep, just below the high tide level, sealing the opening with a thin trapdoor. [2]
Some species avoid flooding by plugging their burrows, while others can avoid drowning by trapping air bubbles within the hairs covering their bodies. [3] [ example needed ] Some members of this group have a rake on the front surface of their chelicerae used for compacting burrow walls. [4] These spiders can run up glass like tarantulas, and some can stridulate, though it isn't audible to humans. [5]
Barychelids are found in Australia, New Caledonia, South America, Africa, Madagascar, India, New Guinea, and Pacific islands. [1]
As of October 2025 [update] , this family includes 39 genera: [1]