Female body lengths range from 9 to 29 mm (0.35 to 1.14 in); males are slightly smaller. They live in burrows in earthen banks, on some cave walls, and probably in forests. The burrow is sealed with a thin, circular, woven door, which is disguised with soil and moss. While they spend the day deep inside their burrows, at night they wait just below the door for insects, woodlice, and similar invertebrates that stumble over one of the seven silken threads that radiate from the entrance. With a reluctance to leave their burrows, they push up the door and reach for their prey.[5]
LLiphistius pyinoolwin: A – microhabitat, B – a burrow with two trapdoors closed, C – same with trapdoors opened, D – female, E – male; Liphistius birmanicus: F – microhabitat, G – burrow with trapdoor closed, H – same with trapdoor opened, I – female, J – male; scale bar: 2 mm (D)
Threatened Malaysian species
Three of the Liphistius species known to exist in Malaysia are endemic to only one or two caves. The most well known is Liphistius batuensis, which is found in Batu Caves.[6] It is endangered, with a population of under 250 individuals. Other species found in Malaysia include Liphistius malayanus, Liphistius murphyorum and Liphistius desultor. The Malaysian trapdoor spiders are protected by local law, though continuous threats come from loss of habitat and collection by exotic pet traders. [7]
^Schiødte, J. C. (1849), "Om en afvigende Slægt af Spindlernes Orden", Naturhistorisk Tidsskrift (2) (in Danish and Latin), 2 (6): 617–624 – via World Spider Catalog
Platnick, Norman I. & Sedgewick, W.C. (1984): A revision of the spider genus Liphistius (Araneae, Mesothelae). American Museum Novitates, (New York), No 2781, 31pp.
Whitten, T., Clements, R. & Price, L. 2013. Liphistius kanthan. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 6 July 2013.
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