Liphistiidae
Encyclopedia
The spider family Liphistiidae comprises 5 genera
and 85 species
from Southeast Asia
, China
, and Japan
. They are among the most basal
living spider
s, belonging to the suborder Mesothelae
. In Japan
, the Kimura-gumo
(Heptathela kimurai) is rather well-known.
Liphistiidae are rarely seen, non-venomous, tube-dwelling spiders that construct rudimentary trap-doors, characterized by their downward pointing, daggerlike chelicerae
, and by having a segmented series of plates on the upper surface of their abdomens. Some make silk trip-lines radiating away from the burrow entrance. They are active at night and live for many years, and females molt after maturity. Adult males wander in search for females, which rarely leave their burrows. The respiratory system consists only of book lungs, which could be a reason why these spiders show a quite low level of activity.
Although most species live in burrows, cave-dwelling species also fasten their retreats to the cave walls. Both burrows and retreats are sealed with woven doors.
, which is found in Batu Caves
. Other species that can be found in Malaysia include Liphistius malayanus, Liphistius murphyorum and Liphistius desultor which can be found in cool-humid places.
The Malaysian trapdoor spiders are protected by local and international law. Continuous threats come from loss of habitat and collection by exotic pet traders. It is believed that most of the species are endemic henceforth once an isolated habitat is destroyed, the species might go into extinction.
, there is no close relationship between those two. It is thought that the common ancestor of all spiders was orthognath, and that in the Opisthothelae
, comprising Mygalomorphae (mostly tarantulas) and Araneomorphae
(all other spiders), only the Araneomorphae changed their alignment of chelicerae, while the mygalomorphs retained this symplesiomorph feature.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
and 85 species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
from Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. They are among the most basal
Basal (phylogenetics)
In phylogenetics, a basal clade is the earliest clade to branch in a larger clade; it appears at the base of a cladogram.A basal group forms an outgroup to the rest of the clade, such as in the following example:...
living spider
Spider
Spiders are air-breathing arthropods that have eight legs, and chelicerae with fangs that inject venom. They are the largest order of arachnids and rank seventh in total species diversity among all other groups of organisms...
s, belonging to the suborder Mesothelae
Mesothelae
The Mesothelae are a suborder of spiders that includes the extinct families Arthrolycosidae and Arthromygalidae and the only extant family Liphistiidae....
. In Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, the Kimura-gumo
Kimura-gumo
The kimura-gumo or kimura spider is an Old World spider, found primarily in Japan and named after Kimura Arika, who discovered it in 1920. It belongs to the sub-order Mesothelae and can reach up to 3 cm in length...
(Heptathela kimurai) is rather well-known.
Biology
Chelicerae
The chelicerae are mouthparts of the Chelicerata, an arthropod subphylum that includes arachnids, Merostomata , and Pycnogonida . Chelicerae are pointed appendages which are used to grasp food, and are found in place of the chewing mandibles most other arthropods have...
, and by having a segmented series of plates on the upper surface of their abdomens. Some make silk trip-lines radiating away from the burrow entrance. They are active at night and live for many years, and females molt after maturity. Adult males wander in search for females, which rarely leave their burrows. The respiratory system consists only of book lungs, which could be a reason why these spiders show a quite low level of activity.
Although most species live in burrows, cave-dwelling species also fasten their retreats to the cave walls. Both burrows and retreats are sealed with woven doors.
Malaysian species
In caves in Malaysia, three different species of Liphistius are known, and each species is endemic to just one or two caves. The most well known of them is Liphistius batuensisLiphistius batuensis
Liphistius batuensis is a species of trapdoor spider from Malaysia. It is thought to be restricted to the Batu Caves, near Kuala Lumpur. It was first collected by H. C. Abraham in 1923, and has been described as a living fossil....
, which is found in Batu Caves
Batu Caves
Batu Caves , is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples, located in Gombak district, north of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It takes its name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill. Batu Caves is also the name of the nearby village.The cave is one of the...
. Other species that can be found in Malaysia include Liphistius malayanus, Liphistius murphyorum and Liphistius desultor which can be found in cool-humid places.
The Malaysian trapdoor spiders are protected by local and international law. Continuous threats come from loss of habitat and collection by exotic pet traders. It is believed that most of the species are endemic henceforth once an isolated habitat is destroyed, the species might go into extinction.
Systematics
Although they are Orthognatha (having downward pointing chelicerae), like the MygalomorphaeMygalomorphae
The Mygalomorphae, , are an infraorder of spiders. The latter name comes from the orientation of the fangs which point straight down and do not cross each other .-Description:...
, there is no close relationship between those two. It is thought that the common ancestor of all spiders was orthognath, and that in the Opisthothelae
Opisthothelae
Opisthothelae is a taxon within Order Araneae, consisting of the Mygalomorphae and the Araneomorphae, but excluding the Mesothelae. Opisthothelae is sometimes presented as an unranked clade and sometimes as a suborder of the Araneae...
, comprising Mygalomorphae (mostly tarantulas) and Araneomorphae
Araneomorphae
The Araneomorphae are a suborder of spiders. They are distinguished by having fangs that oppose each other and cross in a pinching action, in contrast to the Mygalomorphae , which have fangs that are nearly parallel in alignment.- Distinguishing characteristics :Note the difference in the...
(all other spiders), only the Araneomorphae changed their alignment of chelicerae, while the mygalomorphs retained this symplesiomorph feature.
Genera
- HeptathelaHeptathelaHeptathela is a genus of spiders that includes the Kimura-gumo. They are basal trapdoor spiders of the family Liphistiidae and are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.Females are up to 25 mm long, males slightly smaller...
Kishida, 1923 — Vietnam, Japan, China (25 species) - LiphistiusLiphistiusLiphistius is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia.-Biology:...
SchiødteJørgen Matthias Christian SchiødteJørgen Matthias Christian Schiødte or Jørgen Christian Matthias Schiødte was a Danish entomologist.He was born 20 April 1815 in Christianshavn and died 22 April 1884 in Kopenhagen...
, 1849 — Southeast Asia (47 species) - NanthelaNanthelaNanthela is a spider genus in the family Liphistiidae.-Species list:* Nanthela hongkong — Hong Kong* Nanthela tonkinensis — Vietnam...
Haupt, 2003 — Hong Kong, Vietnam (2 species) - RyuthelaRyuthelaRyuthela is a spider genus in the family Liphistiidae.-Species list:* Ryuthela iheyana Ono, 2002 — Ryukyu Islands* Ryuthela ishigakiensis Haupt, 1983 — Ryukyu Islands* Ryuthela nishihirai — Okinawa...
Haupt, 1983 — Ryukyu IslandsRyukyu IslandsThe , also known as the , is a chain of islands in the western Pacific, on the eastern limit of the East China Sea and to the southwest of the island of Kyushu in Japan. From about 1829 until the mid 20th century, they were alternately called Luchu, Loochoo, or Lewchew, akin to the Mandarin...
, Okinawa (7 species) - SongthelaSongthelaSongthela is a spider genus in the family Liphistiidae with species found in China.-Species list:* Songthela hangzhouensis — China* Songthela heyangensis — China...
Ono, 2000 — China (4 species)