Idiops hirsutus

Hairy Idiops Trapdoor Spider
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Mygalomorphae
Family:	Idiopidae
Genus:	Idiops
Species:	I. hirsutus
Binomial name
Idiops hirsutus (Hewitt, 1919) [1]
Synonyms
Acanthodon hirsutusHewitt, 1919

Idiops hirsutus is a species of spider in the family Idiopidae. ^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the hairy Idiops trapdoor spider. ^[3]

Distribution

Idiops hirsutus is an Eastern Cape endemic known only from the type locality East London at an altitude of 56 m above sea level. ^[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Thicket biome. It lives in silk-lined burrows closed with a trapdoor. ^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Idiops hirsutus is known from both sexes. The carapace and legs are pale yellowish brown, while the abdomen is somewhat infuscated superiorly. Total length is 9.8 mm. ^[3]

Conservation

Idiops hirsutus is listed as Data Deficient due to insufficient knowledge about its habitat, distribution and threats. The species is under-collected and more sampling is needed. ^[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by John Hewitt in 1919 as Acanthodon hirsutus from East London. The species has not been revised. ^[3]

References

1. Hewitt, J. (1919). "Descriptions of new South African Araneae and Solifugae". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 6: 63–111.
2. "Idiops hirsutus (Hewitt, 1919)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
3. Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Idiopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 43. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324502 . Retrieved 23 September 2025.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.