Plesiothele fentoni
Lake Fenton Trapdoor Spider Identification in Australia
A small Tasmanian mygalomorph with a patterned yellow-brown abdomen and a lidless silk-lined retreat in mossy habitat.
Avoid handling; bite effects uncertainAbout Lake Fenton trapdoor spider
Plesiothele fentoni is a Tasmanian species in Hexathelidae. The Tasmanian species profile describes a body up to about 15 mm, a strongly patterned yellow-brown abdomen and a silk-lined ground burrow. Despite the common name, the retreat has no trapdoor. Moss around its opening may be held back with silk.
The known habitat is restricted: the official profile identifies southern Tasmanian locations, including subalpine woodland around Lake Fenton and tentative wet-forest records farther north. Being anywhere in Tasmania is not sufficient evidence. A small striped ground spider should be compared with other mygalomorphs, and a photograph cannot safely rule out a funnel-web lookalike. Leave moss and stones in place. This species is listed as endangered in Tasmania, making protection of its small habitat patches especially important. Use a distant habitat photograph and an already visible animal; do not dig into its shelter.
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
- Tasmanian Government: species management profile
- Tasmanian Government: detailed listing statement
- Healthdirect: spider-bite first aid
Reviewed 21 September 2026. Identification guide; not a confirmed species diagnosis.
Quick identification
- Tasmanian locality consistent with the known range
- Body up to approximately 15 mm
- Yellow-brown abdomen with dark patterning
- Lidless silk retreat among moss and rocks
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
Mossy rocky ground in southern Tasmanian subalpine woodland and wet forest; the state profile describes only a small number of known sites.