The Malaysian Trapdoor Spider ( Liphitius desultor )

[magicianANG]

Hello Everybody! I am posting a photo of a Malaysian Trapdoor Spider which is very closely related to tarantulas. Can anyone help me to identify whether it is a male or a female. This is a wild caught specimen of 6cm leg-span.

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/magicianANG/Trapdoor640Final.jpg

[Alice]

i think people in the true spider forum will be able to help on this one ;). also, most likely they'll need a picture of the underside to determine the spider's sex.

[magicianANG]

Hello Alice! Thank you for the tip. I will try to photograph the underside of the spider for sex identification purposes.

Warmest regards.

[Cheshire]

I talked to Botar about these spiders and apparrently allthe ones that are imported are female.

[Botar]

You may have misunderstood me on that one... I said I've yet to see a mature male... I have no idea if they are immature males or all females. Sorry.

Botar

[8+)]

Males of these would have enlarged palpi just like other spiders?

[dukegarda]

Man, I want one that is all black. I've seen a few pictures scattered amongst the intra-webs... but how/where do I get one in Canada.... D=<

[Cheshire]

You may have misunderstood me on that one... I said I've yet to see a mature male... I have no idea if they are immature males or all females. Sorry.

Botar


Oh...OK. Sorry about that.

[lucanidae]

One of the Liphistius we acquired from Botar has recently matured into a male. I'm going to attempt mating them in mid-August. Sorry, no pictures until then.

[8+)]

One of the Liphistius we acquired from Botar has recently matured into a male. I'm going to attempt mating them in mid-August. Sorry, no pictures until then.

Do you know for sure that they mature on the ultimate molt?

Did his body length/leg length ratio change or did he just get the enlarged palpi?

[lucanidae]

He's got hooks and bulbs, he's mature.

[8+)]

You lucky dog!!! :D

I guess I phrased that wrong anyway. Of course, they mature on the ultimate molt!!! :8o

Is he an L. malayanus, or L. murphyorum?

[magicianANG]

Hello there! Finally I'm back. Here is a photo of a MALE L. desultor. It moulted recently and this is the ultimate moult and it is ready for mating anytime now.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2059/1726443807_adca279b22_o.jpg


And here are two more photos of the Malaysian trapdoor spider.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/1414923537_3f0b775776_o.jpg

This black one is a male specimen.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1116/1426054609_cb9d4e67c9_o.jpg

Greetings from Malaysia. I'll be posting photos of our trapdoor hunting trip soon.

[Brent H.]

Just a clarification, Mesothelae spiders (like Liphistius) are not closely related to tarantulas. In fact, a tarantula is far more closely related to a jumping spider or black widow (or any araneomorph spider for that matter) than it is to a mesothele.

[magicianANG]

Thank you, Brent, for your clarification.

Warmest regards,

Tommy Ang

[driver]

And here are two more photos of the Malaysian trapdoor spider.
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1412/1414923537_3f0b775776_o.jpg

This is an amazing spider! Never see a trapdoor like that before, are these available in north america?

[fartkowski]

This is an amazing spider! Never see a trapdoor like that before, are these available in north america?

I was thinking the same thing.
Man these guys look awsome. I want one

[keqwow]

Man that red spider with the separations on the rear....what a cool looking spider!! Would be awesome to see those in the trade here in the U.S. I could forsee a big demand for those....:drool:

[Drachenjager]

you prob wouldnt see it tho lol talk about a pet hole lol