The Mygalomorphae or mygalomorphs are an infraorder of spiders. The name is derived from the Greek mygalē, meaning "shrew", plus morphē meaning form or shape. An older name for the group is Orthognatha, derived from the orientation of the fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other.
Ctenizidae is a small family of medium-sized mygalomorph spiders that construct burrows with a cork-like trapdoor made of soil, vegetation and silk. They may be called trapdoor spiders, as are similar species, such as those of the families Liphistiidae, Barychelidae, Cyrtaucheniidae and some species in Idiopidae and Nemesiidae. In 2018, the family Halonoproctidae was split off from Ctenizidae, leaving only three genera.
The wafer trapdoor spiders, family Cyrtaucheniidae, are a widespread family of spiders that lack the thorn-like spines on tarsi and metatarsi I and II found in true trapdoor spiders (Ctenizidae).
Scinax is a genus of frogs in the family Hylidae found in eastern and southern Mexico to Argentina and Uruguay, Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Lucia. These are small to moderate-sized tree frogs, drably colored. Duellman and Wiens resurrected this genus in 1992. The name originates from the Greek word skinos, meaning quick or nimble.
Microbianor is a genus of African jumping spiders that was first described by D. V. Logunov in 2000. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek μικρός (micro), meaning "small", and the genus Bianor.
Pensacolops is a monotypic genus of Brazilian jumping spiders containing the single species, Pensacolops rubrovittata. It was first described by M. J. Bauab V. in 1983, and is only found in Brazil. The name is a combination of the salticid genus Pensacola and the Ancient Greek "-ops" (ὄψ), meaning "to look like". The species name is a combination of the Latin rubrus, meaning "red", and vittatus, which means "striped".
Nihoa is a genus of South Pacific brushed trapdoor spiders first described by Tracey Churchill & Robert Raven in 1992. It is named after the island Nihoa, where the type species is endemic.
Barychelidae, also known as brushed trapdoor spiders, is a spider family with about 300 species in 42 genera. 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.
Hickmania is a monotypic genus of Australian cribellate araneomorph spiders in the Austrochilidae family, containing only the Tasmanian cave spider. It was first described by Willis J. Gertsch in 1958, and has been found only in Tasmania. It is the last of an old Gondwanan lineage, long since separated from its closest relatives in South America. It is an icon species for faunal conservation in Tasmania, and is named in honor of a professor at the University of Tasmania who specialized in spiders. The species name is derived from the Ancient Greek τρωγλοδύτης (troglodytes), meaning "cave-dweller".
Stegodyphus is a genus of velvet spiders that was first described by Eugène Simon in 1873. They are distributed from Africa to Europe and Asia, with two species found in Brazil. The name is derived from Ancient Greek στέγω (stegos), meaning "covered".
Sason is a genus of bark-dwelling brushed trapdoor spiders first described by Eugène Simon in 1887. It is distributed from the Seychelles through India to northern Australia. The closest related genus seems to be the monotypic Paracenobiopelma.
Sason sundaicum is a species of barychelid trapdoor spiders that is found on trees near the sea, usually closer than 100 metres, although distances of up to five kilometres have been observed. They build short nests with two opposing trapdoors, often attached to the bark of living trees, for example Coconut Palms. However, sometimes a nest is built on sides of large boulders. Nests of males are up to two cm long, those of females up to almost three cm. The migid spider Poecilomigas abrahami from South Africa builds very similar nests.
Sason colemani is a species of barychelid trapdoor spiders that has only been found in a natural swamp in the Botanical Gardens in Cairns, Queensland. Its retreat is a short tube with a door at each end which it builds on the bark of trees. When one door opens, the other is pressed closed. Paracenobiopelma gerecormophilum and spiders of the genus Cyphonisia build similar but slightly longer retreats.
Sason robustum is a species of barychelid trapdoor spiders. It is only found in southern India, Sri Lanka and the Seychelles.
Fijocrypta is a monotypic genus of South Pacific brushed trapdoor spiders containing the single species, Fijocrypta vitilevu. Both genus and species were first described by Robert Raven in 1994, and they have only been found in Fiji. It was first found in rainforests in the eastern highlands of Viti Levu, the largest island in Fiji, from which the species name is derived. The genus name is derived from "Fiji" and the Latin word cryptus, meaning "hidden".
Sason hirsutum is a species of spiders in the family Barychelidae, found in Indonesia.
Barycheloides is a genus of South Pacific brushed trapdoor spiders first described by Robert Raven in 1994.
Natgeogia is a monotypic genus of South Pacific brushed trapdoor spiders containing the single species, Natgeogia rastellata. It was first described by Robert Raven in 1994, and has only been found on New Caledonia.
Questocrypta is a monotypic genus of South Pacific brushed trapdoor spiders containing the single species, Questocrypta goloboffi. It was first described by Robert Raven in 1994, and has only been found on New Caledonia.
