Mygalomorphae
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| Mygalomorphs | ||||||||||
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 Sphodros rufines, an atypical tarantula | ||||||||||
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Antrodiaetidae (folding trapdoor spider) |
The Mygalomorphae, (previously called the Orthognatha), are a suborder of spiders. The latter name comes from the orientation of the fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other (cf araneomorph). This suborder includes the heavy bodied, stout legged spiders popularly known as tarantulas. They have ample poison glands that lie entirely within their chelicerae. Their chelicerae and fangs are large and powerful. Occasionally members of this suborder will even kill small fish, small mammals, etc. Most members of this suborder occur in the tropics and subtropics, but their range can extend farther north, e.g. into the southern and western regions of the United States.
For more pictures, see The Spider Gallery
Spiders in the Suborder Mesothelae include the families Liphistiidae, Arthrolycosidae, and Arthromygalidae. They belong to the Order Araneae.Template:Invertebrate-stub
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