Euoplos variabilis, also known as the Mount Tamborine trapdoor spider, is a species of mygalomorph spider in the Idiopidae family. It is endemic to Australia. It was described in 1918 by Australian arachnologists William Joseph Rainbow and Robert Henry Pulleine.[1][2]

Euoplos variabilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Idiopidae
Genus: Euoplos
Species:
E. variabilis
Binomial name
Euoplos variabilis
Synonyms
  • Tambouriniana variabilis Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918
  • Tambouriniana variabilis flavomaculata Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918
  • Albaniana villosa Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918

Distribution and habitat

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The species occurs in the mountainous Scenic Rim region of south-eastern Queensland and northern New South Wales, in tall open forest and closed forest habitats. The type locality is Tamborine Mountain.[1][2]

Behaviour

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The spiders are fossorial, terrestrial predators. They construct burrows with thick, plug-like trapdoors in bare soil patches on the forest floor, especially on banks and slopes.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Rainbow, WJ; Pulleine, RH (1918). "Australian trap-door spiders". Records of the Australian Museum. 12: 81–169 [121].
  2. ^ a b c "Species Euoplos variabilis (Rainbow & Pulleine, 1918)". Australian Faunal Directory. Dept of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australia. 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2023-08-23.