Brushfooted Trapdoor Spiders - Family: Barychelidae
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The Barychelidae are a family of 385 of medium-sized to large spider species in 39 genera. As a family they are more varied in colours and patterns than other mygalomorphids and they have decidedly more hair and bristles on them. Twentysix genera have been removed from this family over the years, most to the Theraphosidae and Pycnothelidae, highlighting the similarities among Mygalomorphs and how easy it is to misplace them taxonomically. No doubt, more changes will follow.
The Northern Rivers is home to at least five species from two two relatively new genera. These two genera were first described by Robert Raven, Senior Curator (Arach.) at the Queensland Museum, in 1994. |
The burrowing habits of some the Barychelids does set them apart however. Those that live in the intertidal zones make a shallow burrow about 50 - 60 mm deep with a sparse silk lining and a thin trapdoor, just below the highwater mark, relying on the trapdoor to keep the water out. Just like many other spiders they cantrap air with their bodyhair and survive submerged for quite some time so desertion of the burrow it not often a forced necessity. Nonetheless, drowned specimens may be found washed up. There are also species that burrow into trees and rotted wood, many who do burrow all the way through to create a tunnel with two entrances both of which may have with a trapdoor.
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The Brush-footed Trapdoor Spiders are versatile in that they can be found in a wide range of habitats but they are restricted to warm to tropical areas of the world. Most finds are chance encounters though as trapping them with glass jars is difficult; they are capable of climbing up a glass wall thanks to the hairs and bristles on their feet. Like the Wolf Spiders they are capable of making sound by means of stridulation although the sound made is inaudible to the human ear.
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Idiommata iridescens (possible occurrence)
Seqocrypta bancrofti
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Seqocrypta hamlynharrisi
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Jakara Brush-footed Spider - Seqocrypta jakara
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Seqocrypta mckeowni
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Taxonomy:
Phylum: Arthropoda (Arthropods)
> Subphylum: Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
> Class: Arachnida (Arachnids)
> Order: Aranea (Spiders)
> Suborder: Mygalomorphae (Mygalomorphs)
> Superfamily: Avicularioidea
> Family: Barychelidae (Brush-footed Trapdoor Spiders)
> Genus: Idiommata
> Species: I. iridescens ^
> Genus: Seqocrypta
> Species: S. bancrofti
> Species: S. hamlynharrisi
> Species: S. jakara - Jakara Brush-footed Spider
> Species: S. mckeowni
* = likely
^ = possibly
References and links:
> Raven, R.J., (1994). 'Mygalomorph spiders of the Barychelidae in Australia and the western Pacific.' Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 35: 291–706.
> Simon, E., (1889). 'Voyage de M. E. Simon au Venezuela (Décembre 1887–Avril 1888). 4e Mémoire. Arachnides.' Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (6)
9: 169-220, pl. 12-13
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Raven
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stridulation
https://scholia.toolforge.org/author/Q2273486
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/13/Barychelidae
> Raven, R.J., (1994). 'Mygalomorph spiders of the Barychelidae in Australia and the western Pacific.' Memoirs of the Queensland Museum. 35: 291–706.
> Simon, E., (1889). 'Voyage de M. E. Simon au Venezuela (Décembre 1887–Avril 1888). 4e Mémoire. Arachnides.' Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (6)
9: 169-220, pl. 12-13
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Raven
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stridulation
https://scholia.toolforge.org/author/Q2273486
https://wsc.nmbe.ch/family/13/Barychelidae
Photographic contributions: