Liphistius murphyorum question

[lhystrix]

What does the color change represent?
Is it individual variation, change from juvenile to adult, male/female?

The dark specimen was 'rust' prior to molt, same as one it's pictured with.

 

[Iggy]

I am not positive what it means. I have a couple ideas since two of my L. murphyourm have done the same thing only still showing some rust banding on their legs. I also had one that looked just like the pics on Randy May's site of murphyorum that molted, came close to doubling in size, and looks like one of the best looking L. malayanus that I have seen in the flesh. The night I discovered it, after going over all of my records for that specimen and its enclosure to make sure that I had not just mixed up the cage and the data connected to it, I posed that question to Botar He said that being W/C it could be juv. coloration vs. adult coloration or just a different sub-species. Personally, I think that is one option, another thought that I have had is that there may be some natural hybridizing in play since they do cross habitat ranges with L. malayanus, and L. desultor (THIS IS PURE SPECULATION ON MY PART AS I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO WAY OF PROVING THESE STATEMENTS). I am keeping a close eye on the 8 L. murphyorum that have not yet molted in my care to see what happens with them.
The 2 that molted out the way that you pictured here were different in size one was very small under 1in. and the other was almost 2in. prior to molting. Where the one that came out looking malayanus was also small, about 1.5in. and when done was well over 2.5in. So far none of these 3 seem to have matured, so I am inclined to think it is not related to sex determination, but it will be interesting to see how that works out as they do mature. So to make a long dragged out post shorter, I really have no good answer to your questions, just that I have been trying to figure it out for a while. I am just glad someone else saw this as I was afraid that I was seeing things or it was just some fluke. Let me know if you see any of your others "change". Cheers Iggy

 

[lhystrix]

Thanks, Iggy.

I ordered the Haupt publication. Between that and the available revisions, and hopes of my specimens making it to maturity, I should be able to verify species and answer my own question.

According to Platnick 1984 and Murphy 2000, murphyorum only occurs on Pinang.
What does Haupt state, and do you have any idea where the currently available Liphistius were collected in Malaysia?

 

[Tescos]

Hi
I still believe that you do not have L. murphyorum at this moment in time, still for the same reasons as I wrote HERE
A good underside Photo of your possible L. murphyorum may be able to help though.

On the other hand the photos of the colour change after a moult in your spiders is very normal for L. malayanus . I have seen juvs and adults in Malaysia of this species and going by the fact that these are very common, often collected and often exported, I would place my bets on them being this species.

Personally, I think that is one option, another thought that I have had is that there may be some natural hybridizing in play since they do cross habitat ranges with L. malayanus, and L. desultor

Not too sure about this. As I said in the other thread L. murphyorum are only to be found on Penang Island.
L. malayanus on the other hand I don't think have been found there.
While it is true that L. desultor is also found on this island I have not heard that they cross habitat ranges. If this was the case I am sure there would be photos of L. murphyorum in a different thread that I know that show lots of photos L. desultor and its habitate.

I still think that by looking for four small lobes on the anterior margine of the poreplate is going to tell you if you have L. murphyorum or not so the underside is the bit you need to see.

Just a thought but maybe getting in touch with Prof Norman I. Platnick could help a great deal.
All the best
Chris

 

[bolt619]

That first pic looks like it could pass for a tiger legged trapdoor. I just saw one at the pet store and on krazy8's website. He actually delivers to the pet shop I go to.