They are chocolate brown coloured and the males have distinct boxing glove-shaped palps, which are the appendages at the front of the head between the first pair of legs.

Sydney brown trapdoors are usually shy and retiring, although the occasional individual will stand up and show its fangs if harassed inside its burrow.

Mature male Sydney brown trapdoors wander during humid weather in search of a mate.

After hatching, the spiderlings stay in the burrow for some time and eventually emerge to disperse and fend for themselves.

Sydney brown trapdoors dig an open burrow in the ground that is lined with silk.