Euoplos species
Armoured Trapdoor Spiders Identification in Australia
Euoplos is a genus of Australian trapdoor spiders. Different species occupy separate regions, so this guide stays at group level.
Avoid handling; bite effects uncertainAbout Armoured trapdoor spiders
Armoured trapdoor spiders in this guide are Euoplos, members of Idiopidae. The genus contains several regional lineages, including Queensland species and southern or western Australian species. The large Queensland Euoplos dignitas is one member of the genus; its size and restricted habitat should not be applied to every Euoplos.
Start with a robust mygalomorph body and a silk-lined ground retreat. A brown, reddish or dark animal near a burrow may fit the broad group, but colour, size and a visible door cannot establish the genus. Trapdoor spiders from other genera can look very similar. Some old Euoplos names have moved to other genera, making current taxonomy important when using historical records. Photograph the surroundings and an undisturbed retreat. If a spider is wandering, record its locality and whole-body shape from a safe distance rather than turning it over to inspect specialist characters.
Identification limit: this guide is a comparison aid. A name match in the identifier does not establish a species record.
Compare similar spiders
Sources and further reading
- World Spider Catalog: Euoplos and current distributions
- Queensland Museum: Euoplos dignitas research
- Healthdirect: spider-bite first aid
Reviewed 21 September 2026. Identification guide; not a confirmed species diagnosis.
Quick identification
- Robust mygalomorph body
- Soil-and-silk ground retreat
- Locality essential for narrowing the genus
- Several distinct species, not subspecies of one giant spider
What to check next
Photograph the whole spider and its surroundings without disturbing it. Use the clues together; a close match is not a confirmed species identification.
When to seek medical help
Do not handle or probe the retreat. If a bite could be from a funnel-web or mouse spider, call 000 and follow pressure-immobilisation first aid. Do not wait for identification. Poisons advice: 13 11 26.
Where it is usually seen
Localised ground habitats in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria, depending on the species. A genus-level range is not a range map for each species.