''Aliatypus'' is a genus of

North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...

n folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of

Ctenizidae Ctenizidae is a small family of mygalomorph spiders that construct burrows with a cork-like trapdoor made of soil, vegetation, and silk. They may be called trapdoor spiders, as are other, similar species, such as those of the families Liphistii ...

in morphology and behavior, but this is due to convergent evolution rather than direct relation. They are most closely related to members of '' Antrodiaetus'', which build collar doors. It is likely that the shift from using collar doors to using trapdoors is what allowed them to survive in hot, dry conditions where their closest relatives could not. Often found in roadside banks or ravines, they build a burrow perpendicular to the surface with a wafer-like trapdoor entrance to catch prey. Burrows are often clustered together, sometimes quite densely in more favorable positions. They are native to the western United States, where the complex landscape creates pockets of isolated species limited to small regions. As one of the most abundant genera of trapdoor spiders in California, it is argued that their sedentary lifestyle and limited dispersal could benefit studies in the biogeography of California and the surrounding regions.

Species

it contains fourteen species, all found in the southwestern United States: *'' Aliatypus aquilonius'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *'' Aliatypus californicus'' (Banks, 1896) – USA *'' Aliatypus coylei'' Hedin & Carlson, 2011 – USA *'' Aliatypus erebus'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *''

Aliatypus gnomus ''Aliatypus'' is a genus of North American folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of Ctenizidae in morphology and behavior, but this is due to convergent evolution rather than direct relation. Th ...

'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *'' Aliatypus gulosus'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *'' Aliatypus isolatus'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *'' Aliatypus janus'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *''

Aliatypus plutonis ''Aliatypus'' is a genus of North American folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of Ctenizidae in morphology and behavior, but this is due to convergent evolution rather than direct relation. Th ...

'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *''

Aliatypus roxxiae ''Aliatypus'' is a genus of North American folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of Ctenizidae in morphology and behavior, but this is due to convergent evolution rather than direct relation. Th ...

'' Satler & Hedin, 2013 – USA *''

Aliatypus starretti ''Aliatypus'' is a genus of North American folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of Ctenizidae in morphology and behavior, but this is due to convergent evolution rather than direct relation. Th ...

'' Satler & Hedin, 2013 – USA *''

Aliatypus thompsoni ''Aliatypus'' is a genus of North American folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of Ctenizidae in morphology and behavior, but this is due to convergent evolution rather than direct relation. Th ...

'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *''

Aliatypus torridus ''Aliatypus'' is a genus of North American folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of Ctenizidae in morphology and behavior, but this is due to convergent evolution rather than direct relation. Th ...

'' Coyle, 1974 – USA *''

Aliatypus trophonius ''Aliatypus'' is a genus of North American folding trapdoor spiders first described by C. P. Smith in 1908. They resemble members of Ctenizidae Ctenizidae is a small family of mygalomorph spiders that construct burrows with a cork-like trap ...

'' Coyle, 1974 – USA

Species

References

Further reading