Mesothelae

Mesothelae is a suborder of spiders containing the living family Liphistiidae. Its members retain visible abdominal segmentation and are mostly burrowing, representing one of the earliest-diverging living spider lineages.

Spider: An air-breathing arachnid with eight legs, usually bearing silk-producing organs called spinnerets. Mesothelae is one of the major lineages within spiders.
Trapdoor spider: A spider that lives in a silk-lined underground burrow, often concealed by a hinged door. Many mesotheles build silk-lined burrows with camouflaged trapdoors.
Spider evolution: The evolutionary history of spiders, from early arachnid relatives to living lineages. Mesothelae occupies a deep branch in the living spider family tree.
Liphistius: A genus of Asian segmented spiders that includes numerous burrow-dwelling species. It is one of the best-known genera within the living mesotheles.
Liphistiidae: A family of segmented spiders native to East and Southeast Asia, and the only living family in Mesothelae. All living mesotheles belong to this family.
Spider silk: A protein fiber spun by spiders for structures such as webs, egg sacs, and draglines. Mesotheles use silk to line burrows and construct trapdoors.
Arthrolycosidae: An extinct family of Paleozoic spiders known from fossils preserving abdominal segmentation. These fossils help illuminate the early history of segmented spiders.
Heptathela: A genus of segmented spiders native to Japan and nearby parts of East Asia. Its species illustrate the eastern range of Liphistiidae.
Opisthosoma: The posterior body region of an arachnid, often called the abdomen in spiders. Its visible segmentation is a defining mesothele feature.
Ambush predation: A hunting strategy in which a predator waits concealed before attacking nearby prey. Burrow-dwelling mesotheles capture prey near the entrances to their retreats.

Linked from 2 pages