Checklist of Arachnids in Taman Rimba Ilmu Tanah BRIS (TRIBE), Besut: A New Record of Damarchus sp. in Terengganu

Authors

  • Muhammad Irham Abdul Razak Enggang (Pekan) Sdn. Bhd. 2, Lorong Komersial Riverfront 1, Pusat Komersial Riverfront, 26600 Pekan, Pahang
  • Muhammad Ramzie Aliff Aiman Rosli Kg. Kubang Gendang, Chetok, 17060 Pasir Mas, Kelantan Darul Naim
  • Bee Jir Hak No.45, Kg Meranti, Mukim Bebar, 26680 Pekan, Pahang Darul Makmur
  • Muhammad Farhan Abd Wahab Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pahang, Kampus Jengka, 26400 Bandar Tun Razak, Pahang
  • Muhammad Afif Yusof Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pahang, Kampus Jengka, 26400 Bandar Tun Razak, Pahang
  • Farah Ayuni Farinordin Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pahang, Kampus Jengka, 26400 Bandar Tun Razak, Pahang
  • Nabilah Zainol Fakulti Sains Gunaan, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Cawangan Pahang, Kampus Jengka, 26400 Bandar Tun Razak, Pahang
  • Puteri Raihanah Megat Sahrir Institut Biologi Tropika dan Pemuliharaan, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
  • Syriswin Wesdy Sindang Jabatan Perlindungan Hidupan Liar dan Taman Negara (PERHILITAN) Semenanjung Malaysia. Km.10 Jalan Cheras. 56100 Kuala Lumpur
  • Nur Athirah Abdullah Institut Biologi Tropika dan Pemuliharaan, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24191/bioenv.v4i1.129

Keywords:

BRIS soil , spider, scorpion , biodiversity conservation , Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

This record provides the first, albeit preliminary, overview of the spiders in Taman Rimba Ilmu Tanah BRIS (TRIBE), UniSZA, highlighting the significance of beach ridges interspersed with swales (BRIS) soil ecosystems in supporting arachnid diversity. The arachnids were collected on 9-10th August 2025, through visual encounters where the samples were handpicked or collected using a sweep net. Samples were also collected through vegetation beating and litter sieving. Sampling was conducted both during the day and night. A total of 319 individuals, consisting of 66 species belonging to 47 genera, 18 families, and two orders (Araneae and Scorpiones) were recorded in TRIBE. The jumping spiders, Salticidae, and the orb-weavers, Araneidae were the most species-rich families, with 16 and 11 species, respectively. The finding of the tube trapdoor spider, Damarchus sp. (Bemmeridae), marks the first record of this genus in the state of Terengganu, underscoring the ecological importance of BRIS habitats in harbouring unique arachnid species. The presence of the scorpion Lychas mucronatus (Buthidae, another first record in this state further enriches the biodiversity of TRIBE. These findings provide crucial baseline data for future biodiversity assessment of arachnids and emphasize the need for conservation efforts in BRIS ecosystems in Malaysia.

References

Abdullah, N. A., Hazmi, I. R., Asri, L. N., Sulaiman, N., Sulaiman, A., Husin, S. M., Muhamad, E., Engku, F., & Satiman, N. (2019). Spider Assemblage (Arachnida: Araneae) in A Riparian Firefly Sanctuary of Sungai Chukai, Terengganu, Malaysia. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 42, 1361–1373.

Agnarsson, I., & Kuntner, M. (2007). Taxonomy in a changing world: Seeking solutions for a science in crisis. Systematic Biology, 56(3), 531–539. https://doi.org/10.1080/10635150701424546

Basha, H. A., Mostafa, E. M., & Eldeeb, A. M. (2021). Mite pests and their predators on seven vegetable crops (Arachnida: Acari). Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, 28(6), 3414–3417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.03.004

Bermúdez-Guzmán, M. de J., Buenrostro-Nava, M. T., Valdez-Velázquez, L. L., Lino-López, G. J., García-Villalvazo, P. E., Orozco-Santos, M., & Michel-López, C. Y. (2024). Scorpion venom insectotoxins: A sustainable alternative for pest control in agriculture. Phytoparasitica, 52, Article 83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12600-024-01201-2

Cabezas-Cruz, A. (2023). Grand challenges in arachnid microbiota and diseases. Frontiers in Arachnid Science, 2, Article 1215831. https://doi.org/10.3389/frchs.2023.1215831

Chu, C., Lu, Y., Li, S., & Yao, Z. (2022). Taxonomic notes on eleven species of the subfamily Cteninae (Araneae, Ctenidae) from Asia. Biodiversity Data Journal, 10, e96003. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.10.E96003

Dankittipakul, P., Jocqué, R., & Singtripop, T. (2012). Systematics and biogeography of the spider genus Mallinella Strand, 1906, with descriptions of new species and new genera from Southeast Asia (Araneae, Zodariidae). Zootaxa, 3369(1), 1–327. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.3369.1.1

de la Fuente, J., Contreras, M., Estrada-Peña, A., & Cabezas-Cruz, A. (2017). Targeting a global health problem: Vaccine design and challenges for the control of tick-borne diseases. Vaccine, 35(38), 5089–5094. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2017.07.097

Draney, M. L., Juakaly, M. J. L., Sierwald, P., & Milne, M. A. (2025). Comparison of lowland tropical forest spider (Araneae) assemblages from Congo and Panama using a rapid assessment protocol. African Invertebrates, 66(1), 133–150.

Dzulhelmi, M., & Norma-Rashid, Y. (2014). Spider assemblages in Rimba Ilmu Botanical Garden, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Sains Malaysiana, 43(4), 497–502.

Fang, S., Li, Y., Kou, S., & Sun, F. (2024). Harnessing the potential of spider silk proteins for biomedical applications: From native silk fibers to designed bioactive materials. Advanced Functional Materials. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202419739

García, L. F., Rave, C., Arcila, K., García, C., Robledo-Ospina, L. E., & Willemart, R. H. (2021). Do predators react differently to dangerous and larger prey? The case of a mygalomorph generalist spider preying upon insects. Zoology, 144, 125863.

Ghazi, R., Zakaria, A. J., Azmi, W. A., Jaapar, F., & Ngah, N. (2024). Palynology of the stingless bees, Heterotrigona itama (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the coastal forest of Terengganu. Serangga, 29(4), 58–73.

Grbić, M., Van Leeuwen, T., Clark, R. M., Rombauts, S., Rouzé, P., Grbić, V., Osborne, E. J., Dermauw, W., Ngoc, P. C. T., Ortego, F., Hernández-Crespo, P., Diaz, I., Martinez, M., Navajas, M., Sucena, É., Magalhães, S., Nagy, L., Pace, R. M., Djuranović, S., & Van de Peer, Y. (2011). The genome of Tetranychus urticae reveals herbivorous pest adaptations. Nature, 479(7374), 487–492. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature10640

Hauke, T. J., & Herzig, V. (2021). Love bites – Do venomous arachnids make safe pets? Toxicon, 190, 65–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxicon.2020.12.003

Izzat-Husna, M., Rizal, S. A., & Amirrudin, B. A. (2014). Notes on scorpion fauna in Kuala Lompat, Krau Wildlife Reserve, Pahang, Malaysia. Journal of Wildlife and Parks, 28.

Mohtar, J. A., Rahman, K. H. A., Nyanasilan, S., Abdullah, N. A. H., & Mohamad, F. (2024). Discovery of Web-Building Spiders in Gua Kelam, Perlis State Park, Malaysia. Tropical Life Sciences Research, 35(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.21315/tlsr2024.35.1.5.

Kovařík, F., Lowe, G., & Šťáhlavský, F. (2018). Three new Chaerilus from Malaysia (Tioman Island) and Thailand (Scorpiones: Chaerilidae), with a review of C. cimrmani, C. sejnai, and C. tichyi. Euscorpius. https://www.biotaxa.org/Euscorpius/article/view/63446

Kovařík, F., & Šťáhlavský, F. (2019). Revision of the genus Reddyanus from Southeast Asia, with description of five new species from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam (Scorpiones: Buthidae). Euscorpius, 2019(295), 1–45. https://doi.org/10.18590/euscorpius.2019.vol2019.iss295.1

Kumari, S., Bargel, H., Anby, M. U., Lafargue, D., & Scheibel, T. (2018). Recombinant spider silk hydrogels for sustained release of biologicals. ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering, 4(5), 1750–1759. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsbiomaterials.8b00382

Kunsete, C., Thanoosing, C., Sivayyapram, V., Traiyasut, P., & Warrit, N. (2025). New insights into Damarchus: a new species and gynandromorph description from Thailand (Araneae: Bemmeridae). Zootaxa, 5696(3), 409-424. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5696.3.6

Kuntner, M. (2022). The seven grand challenges in arachnid science. Frontiers in Arachnid Science, 1. https://doi.org/10.3389/frchs.2022.1082700

Leannec-Rialland, V., Cabezas-Cruz, A., Atanasova, V., Chereau, S., Ponts, N., Tonk, M., Vilcinskas, A., Ferrer, N., Valdés, J. J., & Richard-Forget, F. (2021). Tick defensin γ-core reduces Fusarium graminearum growth and abrogates mycotoxins production with high efficiency. Scientific Reports, 11, Article 86904. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-86904-w

Michalko, R., Pekár, S., & Entling, M. H. (2019). An updated perspective on spiders as generalist predators in biological control. Oecologia, 189(1), 21–36. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-018-4313-1

Mohtar, H. A., Abdul Rahman, K. H., Nyanasilan, S., Abdullah, N. A. H., & Mohamad, F. (2024). Discovery of web-building spiders in Gua Kelam, Perlis State Park, Malaysia. Tropical Life Sciences Research, 35(1), 87–106.

Muhammad Nasir, D., Su, S., Sulaiman, B., Halim, M., Mamat, N.-S., Rosli, F. N., & Rahim, F. (2020). Field survey of foliage-dwelling spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) in Peninsular Malaysia. Jurnal Entomologi Indonesia, 16(3), 129–141.

Nelson, X. J. (2023). A road map of jumping spider behavior. Journal of Arachnology, 51, 139–154.

Nyffeler, M., & Symondson, W. O. (2001). Spiders and harvestmen as gastropod predators. Ecological Entomology, 26(6), 617–628.

Olive, C. W. (1980). Foraging specialization in orb‐weaving spiders. Ecology, 61(5), 1133–1144. https://doi.org/10.2307/1936833

Pérez-Miles, F., & Perafán, C. (2017). Behavior and biology of Mygalomorphae. In Behaviour and ecology of spiders: contributions from the neotropical region (pp. 29-54). Cham: Springer International Publishing.

Pompozzi, G., & Copperi, S. (2018). Feeding frequency, prey acceptance, and natural diet of the mygalomorph spider Acanthogonatus centralis Goloboff 1995 (Araneae: Nemesiidae). Zoological Studies, 57, e31.

World Spider Catalog. (2025). World spider catalog. https://doi.org/10.24436/2

Zonstein, S. L., & Marusik, Y. M. (2016). A redescription of Damarchus cavernicola Abraham, 1924, with notes on Damarchus Thorell, 1891 and Atmetochilus Simon, 1887 (Aranei: Nemesiidae). Arthropoda Selecta, 23(3), 273–278. https://doi.org/10.15298/arthsel.23.3.06

Downloads

Published

2026-02-27

How to Cite

Abdul Razak, M. I. ., Rosli, M. R. A. A. ., Hak, B. J. ., Abd Wahab, M. F. ., Yusof, M. A. ., Farinordin, F. A. ., Zainol, N. ., Megat Sahrir, P. R. ., Sindang, S. W. ., & Abdullah, N. A. (2026). Checklist of Arachnids in Taman Rimba Ilmu Tanah BRIS (TRIBE), Besut: A New Record of Damarchus sp. in Terengganu. Bioresources and Environment, 4(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.24191/bioenv.v4i1.129

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2026): Bioresources and Environment

Section

Environmental Sciences

Categories

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Muhammad Irham Abdul Razak, Muhammad Ramzie Aliff Aiman Rosli, Bee Jir Hak, Muhammad Farhan Abd Wahab, Muhammad Afif Yusof, Farah Ayuni Farinordin, Nabilah Zainol, Puteri Raihanah Megat Sahrir, Syriswin Wesdy Sindang, Nur Athirah Abdullah

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Most read articles by the same author(s)