These spiders are medium to large in size, with body lengths ranging from 1 to 5 cm (0.5 to 2 in). The body is typically three times longer than it is wide. They are darkly colored, ranging from black to brown, with a glossy carapace covering the front part of the body. Like the related diplurid spiders, the hexathelids have generally long spinnerets.
Their moderately long posterior spinnerets and other features make the Hexathelidae appear similar to the Dipluridae, and were considered a subfamily of the latter until 1980.[1]
Like other Mygalomorphae (also called the Orthognatha, an infraorder of spiders which includes the true tarantulas), these spiders have fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other (see also Araneomorphae). They have ample venom glands that lie entirely within their chelicerae. Their chelicerae and fangs are large and powerful.
Hexathelids typically live in burrows, which are constructed in the ground or in tree hollows. An elaborately constructed burrow entrance is common. These spiders construct a funnel-shaped web and lurk for prey in the small end of the funnel. They frequently search for a place to nest under human dwellings, or under nearby rocks, logs, or other similar objects. They are most active at night. Some build in rain forests, both in the soil and in hollows on trees; others build entirely in sand, e.g., Fraser Island, southeastern Queensland. In Australia, these spiders tend to prefer cooler climates, hence they are found primarily in rain forests.[8]
^ abRaven, R.J. (1980), "The evolution and biogeography of the mygalomorph spider family Hexathelidae (Araneae, Chelicerata)", Journal of Arachnology, 8: 251–266
^Hedin, M.; Derkarabetian, S.; Ramírez, M.J.; Vink, C. & Bond, J.E. (2018), "Phylogenomic reclassification of the world's most venomous spiders (Mygalomorphae, Atracinae), with implications for venom evolution", Scientific Reports, 8 (1636): 1636, Bibcode:2018NatSR...8.1636H, doi:10.1038/s41598-018-19946-2, PMC5785998, PMID29374214
^Gray, M.R. (1987), "Distribution of the funnel web spiders", in Covacevich, J.; Davie, P.; Pearn, J. (eds.), Toxic plants and animals: A guide for Australia, Brisbane: Queensland Museum, pp. 312–321
Further reading
Raven, R.J. & Platnick, N.I. (1978): A new genus of the spider family Dipluridae from Chile (Araneae, Mygalomorphae). J. Arachnol.6: 73-77. PDFArchived 2019-08-05 at the Wayback Machine (Mediothele, now in Hexathelidae)