''Liphistius'' is a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of basal trapdoor spiders in the family

Liphistiidae The spider family Liphistiidae was first recognized by Tamerlan Thorell in 1869. When narrowly circumscribed, it comprises a single genus '' Liphistius'', native to Southeast Asia; , this was the circumscription accepted by the World Spider Cata ...

. They are found in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

, and

Southeast Asia Southeast Asia is the geographical United Nations geoscheme for Asia#South-eastern Asia, southeastern region of Asia, consisting of the regions that are situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of the Mainland Au ...

Taxonomy

The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Lipistius''; this was corrected to ''Liphistius'' by

Tamerlan Thorell Tord Tamerlan Teodor Thorell (3 May 1830 – 22 December 1901) was a Sweden, Swedish arachnologist. Thorell studied spiders with Giacomo Doria at the Museo Civico di Storia Naturale de Genoa. He corresponded with other arachnologists, such as Oc ...

in 1869, a change endorsed by the

International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature The International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) is an organization dedicated to "achieving stability and sense in the scientific naming of animals". Founded in 1895, it currently comprises 26 commissioners from 20 countries. Orga ...

in 1970. ''Liphistius'' is from

Greek Greek may refer to: Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor of all kno ...

, ('lack') and , ('web' in this context).

Biology

Female body lengths range from ; 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.

Species

, the

World Spider Catalog The World Spider Catalog (WSC) is an online searchable database concerned with spider taxonomy. It aims to list all accepted families, genera and species, as well as provide access to the related taxonomic literature. The WSC began as a series of ...

accepts 69 species: *''

Liphistius albipes ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1995 – Thailand *''

Liphistius batuensis ''Liphistius batuensis'' is a species of trapdoor spider from Malaysia. It is thought to be restricted to the Batu Caves and a cave in Templer Park, near Kuala Lumpur. It was first collected by H. C. Abraham in 1923, and has been described as a l ...

'' Abraham, 1923 – Malaysia *''

Liphistius bicoloripes ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Ono, 1988 – Thailand *''

Liphistius birmanicus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Thorell, 1897 – Myanmar *''

Liphistius bristowei ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Thailand *''

Liphistius buran ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 2019 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius castaneus'' Schwendinger, 1995 – Thailand *'' Liphistius cupreus'' (Schwendinger & Huber, 2022) – Myanmar *''

Liphistius dangrek ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *''

Liphistius desultor ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schiödte, 1849 (

type species In International_Code_of_Zoological_Nomenclature, zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the spe ...

) – Malaysia *''

Liphistius endau ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Sedgwick & Platnick, 1987 – Malaysia *''

Liphistius erawan ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *''

Liphistius ferox ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' (Schwendinger & Huber, 2022) – Myanmar *''

Liphistius fuscus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1995 – Thailand *''

Liphistius gracilis ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 2017 – Malaysia *''

Liphistius hatyai ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' (Zhan & Xu, 2022) – Thailand *''

Liphistius hpruso ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Aung, Xu, Lwin, Sang, Yu, H. Liu, F. X. Liu & Li, 2019 – Myanmar *''

Liphistius indra ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 2017 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius inthanon'' (Zhan & Xu, 2022) – Thailand *'' Liphistius isan'' Schwendinger, 1998 – Thailand, Laos *''

Liphistius jarujini ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Ono, 1988 – Thailand *'' Liphistius johore'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius kanthan'' Platnick, 1997 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius keeratikiati'' (Zhan & Xu, 2022) – Thailand *''

Liphistius lahu ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1998 – Thailand *''

Liphistius langkawi ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Malaysia *''

Liphistius lannaianus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1990 – Thailand *''

Liphistius laoticus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal (phylogenetics), basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen Matthias Christian Schiødte, Jø ...

'' Schwendinger, 2013 – Laos *'' Liphistius laruticus'' Schwendinger, 1997 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius linang'' Schwendinger, 2017 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius lordae'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Myanmar *''

Liphistius maewongensis ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Sivayyapram, Smith, Weingdow & Warrit, 2017 – Thailand *''

Liphistius malayanus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''L ...

'' Abraham, 1923 – Malaysia *''

Liphistius marginatus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1990 – Thailand *'' Liphistius metopiae'' Schwendinger, 2022 – Thailand *'' Liphistius murphyorum'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius nabang'' Yu, F. Zhang & J. X. Zhang, 2021 – China *'' Liphistius negara'' Schwendinger, 2017 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius nesioticus'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *''

Liphistius niphanae ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Ono, 1988 – Thailand *''

Liphistius ochraceus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal (phylogenetics), basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen Matthias Christian Schiødte, Jø ...

'' Ono & Schwendinger, 1990 – Thailand *'' Liphistius onoi'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *''

Liphistius ornatus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Ono & Schwendinger, 1990 – Thailand *'' Liphistius owadai'' Ono & Schwendinger, 1990 – Thailand *''

Liphistius panching ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius phileion'' Schwendinger, 1998 – Thailand *'' Liphistius phuketensis'' Schwendinger, 1998 – Thailand *''

Liphistius pinlaung ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Aung, Xu, Lwin, Sang, Yu, H. Liu, F. X. Liu & Li, 2019 – Myanmar *''

Liphistius platnicki ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' (Schwendinger & Huber, 2022) – Myanmar *'' Liphistius priceae'' Schwendinger, 2017 – Malaysia *''

Liphistius pusohm ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *'' Liphistius pyinoolwin'' Xu, Yu, Aung, Yu, Liu, Lwin, Sang & Li, 2021 – Myanmar *''

Liphistius sayam ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1998 – Thailand *'' Liphistius schwendingeri'' Ono, 1988 – Thailand *''

Liphistius sumatranus ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Thorell, 1890 – Indonesia (Sumatra) *'' Liphistius suwat'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *''

Liphistius tanakai ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Ono & Aung, 2020 – Myanmar *''

Liphistius tempurung ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Platnick, 1997 – Malaysia *'' Liphistius tenuis'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *'' Liphistius thaleri'' Schwendinger, 2009 – Thailand *''

Liphistius tham ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Sedgwick & Schwendinger, 1990 – Thailand *''

Liphistius thoranie ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Schwendinger, 1996 – Thailand *'' Liphistius tioman'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Malaysia *''

Liphistius trang ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Thailand *'' Liphistius tung'' Schwendinger, 2022 – Myanmar *''

Liphistius yamasakii ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen M. C. Schiødte in 1849. Schiødte spelt the name ''Li ...

'' Ono, 1988 – Thailand *'' Liphistius yangae'' Platnick & Sedgwick, 1984 – Thailand, Malaysia *'' Liphistius pilok'' *''

Liphistius chang ''Liphistius'' is a genus of basal (phylogenetics), basal trapdoor spiders in the family Liphistiidae. They are found in Japan, China, and Southeast Asia. Taxonomy The genus ''Liphistius'' was erected by Jørgen Matthias Christian Schiødte, Jø ...

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 ''

'', which is found in

Batu Caves Batu Caves is a 325-m tall mogote with a series of limestone caves in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia. It is located about north of the capital city of Kuala Lumpur. The cave complex contains many Hindu temples, the most popular of which is a shri ...

. It is endangered, with a population of under 250 individuals. Other species found in Malaysia include ''

'', '' Liphistius murphyorum'' and ''

''. The Malaysian trapdoor spiders are protected by local law, though continuous threats come from loss of habitat and collection by exotic pet traders.

References

External links