Trapdoor Spiders are found in many habitats including rainforest and desert.

They are medium to large ground living, burrowing spiders. Usually they are dark in colour or mottled. They have downwards moving chelicerae and two pairs of book lungs. The final segment of the second pair of spinnerets is short and rounded.

A burrow may be more than 1 metre in length and dug at an angle or straight down. It may be sealed by a lid or trapdoor of silk and earth. The spider waits inside its burrow then seizes insects or other small passing creatures. Male trapdoor spiders wander in search of females in summer, usually in damp weather.

Trapdoor spiders are much less aggressive than funnel webs. When in danger they will usually freeze with legs close to the body, lie upside down, or run away.