description Liphistius desultor Overview
Liphistius desultor is a primitive trapdoor spider from Southeast Asia, first described by Danish zoologist Jørgen Matthias Christian Schiødte in 1849. It belongs to the family Liphistiidae, the most basal living lineage of spiders, and retains vestigial abdominal segmentation — a feature lost in modern spiders — as well as striking plates (tergites) on the abdomen. The genus constructs burrows with trapdoors and ambushes prey, and is considered a 'living fossil' lineage dating to the Mesozoic.
help Liphistius desultor FAQ
Who first scientifically described the Liphistius desultor spider?
Liphistius desultor was first described in 1849 by the Danish zoologist Jörgen Matthias Christian Schiødte. This arachnid belongs to the family Liphistiidae, making it one of the most ancient, primitive spider lineages alive today.
What primitive physical feature makes Liphistius desultor unique among modern spiders?
Unlike almost all modern spiders, Liphistius desultor retains visible, segmented abdominal plates on its back, resembling its ancient arachnid ancestors. It also possesses heavy, visible spinnerets located midway down its abdomen rather than at the very tip.
How does the Liphistius desultor spider hunt its prey?
Like other members of its family, it is a primitive trapdoor spider that lives in a silk-lined burrow in the ground. It builds a hinged, camouflaged door and waits just beneath it, lunging out to grab insects that trigger its tripwires.
Where do Liphistius spiders typically live?
Spiders of the Liphistiidae family are exclusively found in Southeast Asia, specifically in regions of China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia. They prefer to dig their burrows in moist, humid forest soils.
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