Brisbane Trapdoor Spider

Arbanitis longipes, family Idiopidae

Identification

Narrow-headed brown spiders with light coloured hairs on the head and dark brown or mottled body. The lighter coloured legs are quite slender and have dark edges.

Diversity & distribution

Coastal eastern Australia near the Queensland-New South Wales border.

A complex of similar species ("superspecies") recognisable only from adult males is thought to occur in the Greater Brisbane area. A similar species, Arbanitis robertcollinsi, occurs in Lamington National Park.

This species is listed by EPA as a species of conservation concern. However, it seems to be one of the most resilient of trapdoor spiders even persisting in highly disturbed industrial dump sites.

Burrow

The burrow is open, without a door. The entrance is lined with dead leaves bound to the wall with silk.

Bite

No bites have been recorded; not believed to be dangerous.

Similar Species

Brown Tube spider.

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