Jeremy Wilson: Why trapdoor spiders all look alike and the link between behaviour and body shape

Idiosoma sp, ‘dome door’ burrow (Photo supplied: J. Wilson)

Why trapdoor spiders all look alike: The link between behaviour and body shape, and what it tells us about spider evolution.

Western Australia is known for its astounding diversity of mygalomorph spiders (trapdoor spiders and their relatives). These spiders build an amazing array of different burrows and retreats, ranging from the intricate twig-lined trapdoor burrows of Gaius villosus to the messy ‘curtain webs’ built under rocks and logs by spiders of the genus Cethegus.

In this talk, Jeremy will explain how the physical appearance of these spiders changes depending on the type of retreat they create and show that burrowing behaviour and morphology have evolved together in consistent ways across all groups of mygalomorph spiders globally. He will then explore the trade-offs afforded by different burrowing ‘niches’ and examine the evolutionary constraints that shape the mygalomorph adaptive landscape.

Idiosoma sp. ‘punk door’ habitus (Photo supplied: J. Wilson)