Blakistonia aurea

Blakistonia aurea, also known as the Adelaide trapdoor spider or the yellow trapdoor spider, is a species of mygalomorph spider in the Idiopidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1902 by British arachnologist Henry Roughton Hogg.

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in South Australia in the southern gulfs region, including the northern Eyre Peninsula, Mount Lofty and Flinders Ranges, extending into western New South Wales and north-western Victoria, in open forest and woodland habitats. Type localities are Adelaide, Blakiston and the Mount Lofty Ranges.

Behaviour

The spiders are fossorial, terrestrial predators. The burrows have thick soil trapdoors and are constructed in heavy clay soils, such as those in creek banks and clay-pans.