The Mygalomorphae, or mygalomorphs, are an infraorder of spiders, and comprise one of three major groups of living spiders with over 3,000 species, found on all continents except Antarctica. Many members are known as trapdoor spiders due to their creation of trapdoors over their burrows. Other prominent groups include Australian funnel web spiders and tarantulas, with the latter accounting for around one third of all mygalomorphs.
The family Cyrtaucheniidae, known as wafer-lid trapdoor spiders, are a widespread family of Mygalomorphae spiders.
Nemesiidae, also known as funnel-web trapdoor spiders, is a family of mygalomorph spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1889, and raised to family status in 1985. Before becoming its own family, it was considered part of "Dipluridae".
Idiops is a genus of armored trapdoor spiders that was first described by Josef Anton Maximilian Perty in 1833. It is the type genus of the spurred trapdoor spiders, Idiopidae. Idiops is also the most species-rich genus of the family, and is found at widely separated locations in the Neotropics, Afrotropics, Indomalaya and the Middle East. Females live in tubular burrows lined with a thick layer of white silk. These typically have a D-shaped lid that fits into the entrance like a cork, and some burrows have two entrances. The lid may consist of mud, moss or lichen, which is bound below by a thick layer of silk. As in all genera of this family, the anterior lateral eyes (ALE) are situated near the clypeal margin, far in front of the remaining six eyes, which are arranged in a tight group. The males which are smaller in size, wander about or occasionally live in burrows. Like other mygalomorphs, they are relatively large and long-lived. Forest clearance and agricultural practices that loosen the soil and enhance erosion, besides soil removal for brick making have been pointed out as serious threats to some Indian species. Species ranges are poorly known – in India for instance, most species are known only from their type localities.
Ctenolophus is a genus of African armored trapdoor spiders that was first described by William Frederick Purcell in 1904. Originally placed with the Ctenizidae, it was moved to the Idiopidae in 1985.
Stasimopus is a genus of African mygalomorph spiders that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. It is the only genus in the family Stasimopidae.
Stenoterommata is a genus of South American araneomorph spiders in the family Pycnothelidae. It was first described by E. L. Holmberg in 1881. Originally placed with the Ctenizidae, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Pycnothelidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Ctenochelus.
Ancylotrypa is a genus of African wafer trapdoor spiders that was first described by Eugène Simon in 1889. Originally placed with the Ctenizidae, it was moved to the Cyrtaucheniidae in 1953.
Homostola is a genus of African mygalomorph spiders in the family Bemmeridae. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1892. Originally placed with the Ctenizidae, it was transferred to the wafer trapdoor spiders in 1985, and to the Bemmeridae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Stictogaster and Paromostola.
Harpactirella is a genus of African tarantulas that was first described by William Frederick Purcell in 1902. Originally placed with the brushed trapdoor spiders, it was transferred to the tarantulas in 1985.
Entypesa is a genus of African mygalomorph spiders in the family Entypesidae. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1902. Originally placed with the curtain-web spiders, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Entypesidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Pseudohermacha.
Hermacha is a genus of mygalomorphae spiders in the family Entypesidae. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1889. Originally placed with the Ctenizidae, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Entypesidae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Damarchodes and Hermachola.
Pionothele is a genus of African mygalomorph spiders in the family Pycnothelidae. It was first described by William Frederick Purcell in 1902. As of June 2020 it contains 2 species, found in Namibia and South Africa: P. gobabeb, and P. straminea. Originally placed with the Ctenizidae, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, then to the Pycnothelidae in 2020.
Spiroctenus is a genus of African araneomorph spiders in the family Bemmeridae. It was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1889. Originally placed with the Ctenizidae, it was transferred to the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, and to the Bemmeridae in 2020. It is a senior synonym of Bemmeris, Bessia, and Ctenonemus.
Entypesidae is a family of African mygalomorphae spiders. It was first described in 2020, and includes three genera moved from the funnel-web trapdoor spiders.
Hermachola is a genus of southern African mygalomorph spiders in the family Entypesidae. It was first described by J. Hewitt in 1915, and it has only been found in South Africa. As of November 2021 it contains only three species: H. capensis, H. crudeni, and H. lyleae. It was previously considered a junior synonym of Hermacha , but was elevated to genus in 2021. The type species, Hermachola crudeni, was originally described under the name "Hermacha crudeni".
Pycnothelidae is a family of mygalomorph spiders first described in 1917. It was downgraded to a subfamily of the funnel-web trapdoor spiders in 1985, but returned to family status in 2020.
Afropesa is a genus of southern African mygalomorph spiders in the family Entypesidae. It was first described by S. L. Zonstein and D. Ríos-Tamayo in 2021, and it has only been found in South Africa. As of November 2021 it contains only three species: A. gauteng, A. schoutedeni, and A. schwendingeri. The type species was originally described under the name "Entypesa schoutedeni.
Brachytheliscus is a monotypic genus of southern African mygalomorph spiders in the family Entypesidae containing the single species, Brachytheliscus bicolor. It was first described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1902, and it has only been found in South Africa. It was previously considered a junior synonym of Hermacha, but was moved to genus status in 2021. The type species was originally described under the name "Brachythele bicolor".
