Native Animals

Nephilengys malabarensis

Malabar Hermit Spider
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LC
Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
ver 3.1, 2017
QR Code
SSN 54057
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Taxonomy

The taxonomic status is pending for approval

Description
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This spider species Nephilengys malabarensis or more commonly known as Asian Hermit Spider or Malabar Hermit Spider belongs to the genus Nephilengys, in the family Araneidae. The underside of the cephalothorax and abdomen of the female is strikingly orange coloured. This spider exhibits sexual dimorphism which is the male being much smaller than the female. Females reach a body length of about 15 mm. The legs and palp are annulated yellow and black. Male body size is less than 5 mm with mostly grey-black legs. This spider’s web is suspended near the surface of tree trunks or old walls. Incorporated into the web is a tubular retreat into which the spider will escape when disturbed. Adult males do not build their own webs, but live with females. Nephilengys malabarensis are preyed upon by the spider-eating jumping spider Portia. This species is widespread in India to China, Philippines, Indonesia and Japan. 

Assessment
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Year Published Assessment Red List Category Version
2017 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Least Concern (LC)
3.1

Location
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by State Location
  • Perak 1
  • Sabah 2
  • Sarawak 2
Based on publications, specimens, and images

Specimen
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Collection Center   Total
Zoological Collection
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Penang
1

Biodiversity Experts
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Profile
Nik Ahmad Irwan Izzauddin Bin Nik Him (Dr.)
Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM)
  • Spiders
  • Biodiversity
  • PM
Norma Binti Che Yusoff (Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
  • Spiders (Ecology)
  • Protected Areas
  • Marine & Coastal
  • Digital Sequence Information (DSI)
  • Climate Change
  • PM
  • W
Rosli Hashim (Prof. Dr.)
University of Malaya (UM)
  • Birds (Ecology)
  • Mammals (Ecology)
  • Spiders
  • Insects
  • Biodiversity
  • Protected Areas
  • PM
  • W
Tan Li Peng (Dr.)
Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK)
  • Arachnids
  • Insects
  • Agriculture
  • Biodiversity
  • Forest
  • PM
PM - Peninsular Malaysia; SBH - Sabah; SWK - Sarawak; SEA - Southeast Asia; W - World;

References
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Article
  1. Dzulhelmi, M.N., Wong, C.X., Goh, T.G., Juhaida, H. & Faszly, R. (2014). Spider fauna (Arachnida, Araneae) from Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2 (5), 335-344. https://www.entomoljournal.com/vol2Issue5/pdf/68.1.pdf
  2. Koh, J.K.H., Norma-Rashid, Y. & Koh, J.W.B. (2013). A preliminary checklist of Sarawak spiders. Sarawak Museum Journal 71 (92), 203-254
  3. Norma-Rashid, Y. & Li, D. (2009). A checklist of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) from Peninsular Malaysia inclusive of twenty new records. The Raffles Bulletin of Zoology 57 (2), 305-322
Book
  1. Nik Ahmad Irwan Izzauddin, N. H., Suhaila, A.H. & Zarul, H.H. (2019). Royal Belum-Temengor Rainforest : The Hidden Treasure of Perak. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia and Kementerian Air, Tanah dan Sumber Asli. pp. 300.
  2. Nik Ahmad Irwan Izzauddin, N. H., Suhaila, A.H. & Husni, C.N. (2022). Spiders: 100 Common Species in Penang. Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia and Ministry of Energy and Natural Resource, Malaysia.
Online
  1. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved November 30, 2016, from http://www.iucnredlist.org

Publications
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Royal Belum-Temengor Rainforest : The Hidden Treasure of Perak (August 2019)

Related by Family  
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Acknowledgements :- Mr. Afham Ezani, Ms. Aida Salihah Binti Abu Bakar, Mr. Badrul Amin Bin Jaffar, Mr. Ikman Bin Sabini, Ms. Ilmie Syafiqah Binti Mohd Termizi, Ms. Norazah Binti Norddin, Ms. Nurul Fatinizzati Binti Abd Halim & Mr. Yasser Mohamed Arifin

Photo credit :- Husni Che Ngah & USM

Species Citation :- Nephilengys malabarensis. Malaysia Biodiversity Information System (MyBIS). Accessed via https://www.mybis.gov.my/sp/54057. [Retrieved 23 March 2023].

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