Barychelidae
Brush-Footed Trapdoor Spider Identification
Sturdy trapdoor-type spider linked with silk-lined burrows and often confused with other dark ground spiders.
Painful but usually not life-threateningBrush-footed trapdoor spiders are a mygalomorph group people may find while digging, gardening or moving logs. A stocky brown-to-dark body beside a soil burrow or silk-lined retreat is a more useful starting combination than colour alone. Keep the spider and its retreat undisturbed: a single photo often cannot separate it confidently from other trapdoor, mouse or funnel-web-type spiders, so a possible medically significant bite needs prompt medical advice.
Quick identification
- Stocky trapdoor-type body
- Burrow or silk-lined retreat
- Brown to dark colour
- Found in soil, garden beds or bushland
What to check next
Check whether the spider was in or near a burrow and compare with funnel-web range and glossy build.
When to seek medical help
Seek advice for severe pain or if a medically significant spider cannot be ruled out.
Where it is usually seen
Soil burrows, gardens, forest floor, banks and under rocks or timber.