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Malaysian Trapdoor Spider (Liphistius malayanus)

Liphistius malayanus

The Liphistius malayanus, a living fossil known as 'Malaysian Trapdoor Spider' or 'Armored Trapdoor Spider'. It is one of the oldest and most primitive spiders existing on Earth (suborder Mesothelae). It is distinguished from any other modern spider by the clearly segmented and armored abdomen (resembles a trilobite or an isopod). It is a fossorial that builds horizontal dens in mud walls, sealed by a thick camouflaged trapdoor from which 'radiating' threads branch out like an alarm system. Very fast and equipped with primitive paraxial fangs, it requires humid terrariums and a lot of clay to replicate its vertical excavation. An absolute rarity for evolution enthusiasts.

Taxonomy
Class:Arachnida
Order:Araneae
Family:Liphistiidae
Genus:Liphistius
Species:Liphistius malayanus

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Environment

Terrestrial

Humidity

75 - 85 %

Day temperature

24 - 27 °C

Night temperature

21 - 23 °C

UVB

None

Species description

Geographic Origin and Habitat: World Spider Catalog lists Malaysia (peninsula) for Liphistius malayanus. This recovery makes no habitat statement beyond that cited distribution.
Taxonomy and Genetics: World Spider Catalog lists Liphistius malayanus Abraham, 1923. It cites Abraham, 1923a: 769 as the original description. This recovery makes no genetic statement beyond the cited facts.
Behaviour and Habits: This recovery makes no behavioural statement beyond the cited facts.
Morphology and Sexual Dimorphism: This recovery makes no morphological or sex-comparison statement beyond the cited facts.

Care, breeding and tankmates

Terrarium Setup: The peer-reviewed PLOS ONE article identifies Liphistius malayanus as its mesothele representative and states that it constructs a subterranean burrow with a trapdoor and radiating sensory lines. This is a natural-history observation, not a terrarium specification.
Lighting and Heating: This proposal does not establish lighting or heating parameters.
Humidity and Hydration: This proposal does not establish humidity or hydration parameters.
Feeding and Supplementation: This proposal does not establish feeding or supplementation guidance.
Compatibility and Coexistence: This proposal does not establish cohabitation guidance.
Health and Common Diseases: This proposal does not establish health, clinical, or veterinary guidance.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

This species originates from: Sud-est Asiatico (Pareti fangose e foreste primarie delle grotte in Malesia).

Origin

South and Southeast Asia

Terrestrial invertebrate profile

Diet
No verified data available
Life expectancy
No verified data available
Adult size
1.9 cm
The catalog's scalar value is 1.9 cm. The Schwendinger — revision of Liphistius in Peninsular Malaysia source reports a maximum adult measurement of 1.9 cm for this species, recorded as body length. The taxonomic record consulted is Liphistius malayanus. These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Lifestyle/Microhabitat
No verified data available
Activity cycle
No verified data available
Sociality
No verified data available
Reproduction
No verified data available
Venom level
No verified data available
Handling tolerance
No verified data available
Brumation
No verified data available
Molting
No verified data available

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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Last updated: 08/10/2026
Malaysian Trapdoor Spider (Liphistius malayanus) Care Guide & Terrarium Setup | Atlarium