BANGKOK, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- A new species of ancient trapdoor spider has been discovered by Faculty of Science of Thailand's Chulalongkorn University, local media said on Wednesday.
Students and teachers from Department of Biology of the University found a species of trapdoor spider originated over 300 million years ago. They named it "trapdoor spider of Mae Wong," or Liphistius Maewongensisas, as this species are found just in the Mae Wong national park, according to Bangkok Biz News.
Trapdoor spiders of Mae Wong build their net on steep cliffs in areas at an altitude of more than 1,000 meters. They dig holes deep about 10 to 20 centimeters, spinning their silk and set traps to catch their food.
Biologist Natapot Warrit from the university said there are less than 200 such spiders in the world, which only exist in Thailand's Mae Wong nation park.
"It's the 97th species of trapdoor spiders discovered in the world, and the 33rd to have been discovered in Thailand," said the researcher.
He added that this rare group has been living in cavities that are hardly reached by other animals, which preserves them for million of years.
Natapot said the researchers will propose to related agencies to preserve forests in the Mae Wong national park, which spans over central Thailand's Nakhon Sawan and Kamphaeng Phet provinces.
