Sydney brown trapdoor spider facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sydney brown trapdoor spider |
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The Sydney brown trapdoor spider (scientific name: Arbanitis rapax) is a type of spider. It belongs to the family Idiopidae. You can mostly find these spiders around Sydney, Australia.
People often confuse this spider with the Sydney funnel-web spider. The funnel-web is one of the most dangerous spiders in the world. However, the Sydney brown trapdoor spider is usually shy. Its bite is not considered dangerous to humans.
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What Does the Sydney Brown Trapdoor Spider Look Like?
Sydney brown trapdoor spiders are medium to large in size. Female spiders are about 35 millimeters (mm) long. Male spiders are usually smaller, around 20 mm long. They are also thinner than the females.
These spiders are a chocolate brown color. Male spiders have special parts called palps. These are small feelers at the front of their head. They look a bit like tiny boxing gloves!
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A male Sydney brown trapdoor spider.
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A female Sydney brown trapdoor spider.
How Do Sydney Brown Trapdoor Spiders Behave?
Sydney brown trapdoor spiders are usually quite shy. They prefer to stay hidden. If someone bothers them in their burrow, they might stand up. They will show their fangs to warn you.
These spiders spend most of their time in their burrows. At night, they wait near the entrance for food.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
When it's humid, adult male Sydney brown trapdoor spiders go looking for a mate. They wander around to find a female. Mating happens inside the female's burrow. The male usually escapes after mating. This allows him to mate with several females before he dies.
The mother spider keeps her eggs safe. She puts them in a silk cocoon inside her burrow. After the spiderlings hatch, they stay with their mother for a while. Later, they leave the burrow to find their own homes. They then learn to take care of themselves.
Where Do Sydney Brown Trapdoor Spiders Live?
Sydney brown trapdoor spiders dig burrows in the ground. These burrows are open at the top. They line the inside of their burrows with silk.
These burrows can be quite deep, up to 250 mm. They are about 25 mm wide. Sometimes, you can see silk lines around the entrance. These are called "triplines." They help the spider know when something is nearby.
Are Sydney Brown Trapdoor Spider Bites Dangerous?
Many people mistake the Sydney brown trapdoor spider for the dangerous funnel-web spider. But don't worry! The bites from Sydney brown trapdoor spiders are not dangerous to humans. If you get bitten, you might feel some local pain. The area might also swell a little.
Images for kids
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A Sydney brown trapdoor spider in Kurrajong, New South Wales.
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Looking out of its burrow in Kurrajong, New South Wales.
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Inside its burrow in Kurrajong, New South Wales.
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Outside its burrow in Kurrajong, New South Wales.
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Outside its burrow in Kurrajong, New South Wales.
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Outside its burrow in Kurrajong, New South Wales.
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Attacking a stick and showing its fangs with a venom drop (see red circle) in Kurrajong, New South Wales.
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A male spider in MacMasters Beach, New South Wales.
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