Hi linbedach,

Your spider looks like a male trapdoor spider, probably belonging to the genus Stanwellia, but it's not possible to be certain without being able to examine the spider.

Hi rjscott - great spider! However, I don' t think it's a backpacking funnel-web from Sydney - it looks most like a female Mouse Spider. These spiders have very large, heavy fang bases and stumpier spinnerets than funnel-webs. Also, the species commonly known as the Red-headed Mouse Spider (named after the distinctive males) are most likely to be found where you are.

Hello LynnC,

The important thing about those images of the burrow entrances for funnelwebs is the lacey looking appearance caused by the trip lines. A somewhat similar looking spider called the Brown Trapdoor - Misgolas rappax (which DOESN'T actually build a trapdoor at all) is often reported as a funnelweb, and a group of these spiders will create a series of round holes with silken collars in many a backyard and flowerbed. These holes LACK the lacey looking trip-lines and, as you mention, the spiders are usually a brown shade rather than shiny black (although they can be dark enough to look matt black on occasion). If you can send in an image of what you have in your garden (j'peg file and not too large please) then we can try to identify what has caused the holes you have found. In the meantime you might want to check out some of the other features to help you determine if you do have a Funnel-web Spider  by clicking on the link highlighted above.

S

M

The species in question is an undescribed species of the genus Hadronyche. It is being described by Dr Mike Gray and originally had the manuscript name of “orana”, but will not be called this when published. Dr Gray’s manuscript on the Funnel Webs has recently been submitted for publication, so this species will soon have a name.