They're relatives of tarantulas and share some of their burrowing habits of that spider species. Trapdoor spiders are medium-sized arachnids with sturdy bodies and thick legs built for digging.

However, the spiders still needed protection in case the ants got bitey. This hair-defense hypothesis is supported by previous studies that suggested burrowing tarantulas cover their egg sacs in ...

Trapdoor spiders, as their name suggests, are burrowing spiders. They erect multiple “trapdoor” entrances to their burrows and cover them with a silk-weave in an effort to ambush small insect ...