Walking Mud Spider
This bizarre zodariid is easily recognised by a body that is heavily encrusted with soil particles. The soil particles do not fall off from the body as they are held securely by setae with microscopic "Velcro" hooks. Unlike typical zodariids, the eye region protrudes anteriorly with the AER appearing in an inverted U-shaped formation in front view. Two rows of yellow setae spreading from the mid-line of the carapace. Instead of having slender and cylindrical legs as in other zodariids, the legs are heavy and angular. with zones of strong but rather blunt yellow setae.
| Length | ♀ 6–7 mm; ♂ 6 mm |
| Distribution | Singapore, Malaysia (Penang), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java), Brunei. |
| Habitat | Under fallen logs, in leaf litter and soil on the floor of primary forests. |
| Biology | They feed on termites and beetles. When threatened, the spider immediately stops its slow and deliberate movement and "freezes", making it more difficult to detect. |
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Chelicerata (Chelicerates)
Class Arachnida (Arachnids)
Order Araneae (Spiders)
Suborder Araneomorphae (Typical Spiders)
Cryptothele sundaica (Original description ♂)
Thorell, 1890d Arachnidi di Pinang raccolti nel 1889 dai Signori L: 305
Cryptothele sundaica (Original description ♀)
Workman, 1896 Malaysian spiders: 77, pl. 77 doi:10.5962/bhl.title.101972
Cryptothele sundaica (♀)
Kulczyński, 1911b Symbola ad faunam Aranearum Javae et Sumatrae cognoscendam: 482, pl. 21, f. 31
* Retrieved from the World Spider Catalog.
Singapore, Malaysia (Penang), Indonesia (Sumatra, Java), Brunei.