Skip to main content

Trap Door Spider

Ummidia sp.

Photo by LaurenZarate
Published on Project Noah
Zoom
NominateNominate for Wildlife Photograph of the Month
reportFlag Spotting

16.7131, -92.6126

Field Notes

Description:

A robust medium sized spider, 2.3 cm in body length and looking much bigger with those stocky long legs. All black with a brownish abdomen on which faint darker brown stripes are visible. It was walking fast right down the middle of the street and went under a cement overhang on the curb. It is probably a male out looking for a female. The palpi are long, hairy on the tips, as are all 4 pairs of tarsi. These hairy tarsi (scopulae) are supposed to be a male characteristic. He also has several small pale mites scattered about on his body and legs, maybe hitchhiking. They are supposed to have 6 eyes instead of 8, but the eyes didn't show clearly. This is the first Trap Door Spider I have ever seen and I didn't even think we had them in our area. Family Halonoproctidae.

Habitat:

Found late at night, semi-rural residential area, San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico 2,200 meters.

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (3)

Thank you Neil and Michael. I had never seen one before at all! I'll have to go out looking for the trap doors now. In all the pictures of these guys, they hold the long palpi in a lyre-shaped position.
Awesome spider. Well spotted, Lauren.

Accelerate our Mission to Photograph 
Every Species in the World!

Image
Butterflies icon

Wildlife Community

Wildlife Community

Join a worldwide community passionate about wildlife and nature!

Join Project Noah

Nature School

Nature School

Transform your green space into a curiosity-creating nature classroom!

Visit Nature School

Wildlife Game

Wildlife Game

Defend wildlife throughout the jungle in thrilling nature game!

Play Baboon