Mouse Spider

Eight species of Mouse Spiders are found in Australia. The size of the Mouse Spiders varies from 10-35mm. This species of spiders have high and bulbous heads and big jaws. The spiders have a smooth and shiny carapace and their eyes spread across the front of the carapace. The spinnerets of the spiders are short and the end segment is domed and button-shaped. This species of spiders dwell in open forest and also in semi-arid shrub land. These spiders build burrows like the mouse which are large and silk-lined.

The depths of the burrows vary from 20-55cm and are wide at the entrance. The Red-Headed Mouse Spiders are widely spread across Australia. These spiders build their burrows with a trapdoor that prevents predators from invading it. The males generally wander at night during the early winter days in search of their mating partner but are also seen during the daytime.