Sains Malaysiana 55(3)(2026): 363-374

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2026-5503-01

 

Microhabitat Preference of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

(Pilihan Mikrohabitat Corecmiocnemis cunicularia dan Chilobrachys andersoni di Pulau Pinang, Malaysia)

 

IRHAM RAZAK¹, MUSHAHRIL SHUKOR², DZULHELMI MUHAMMAD NASIR³, AHMAD ZAFIR WAHAB⁴, CHAI MIN HIAN⁵ & AMIRRUDIN AHMAD^1,*

 

¹Biology and Ecology Research (BERes), Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Pencinta, No. 092, Kampung Mengkuang Hujung, 09110 Kuala Pegang, Kedah, Malaysia

³Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

⁴The Habitat Foundation, 488A-20-02 & 03, Penas Tower, One Stop Midlands Park Complex, Jalan Burma, 10350 Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

⁵Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, 22200 Besut, Terengganu, Malaysia

 

Received: 14 November 2023/Accepted: 4 August 2024

 

Abstract

The Theraphosidae, commonly known as tarantulas, is one of the families under the infraorder of Mygalomorphae. Untill today, information regarding the ecology of Theraphosidae in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia, has been lacking, particularly concerning  their ecology and natural history. This study aimed to investigate and compare the microhabitat parameters of Chilobrachys andersoni and Coremiocnemis cunciularia in Pulau Pinang across six sampling sites from May 2022 to September 2022. Thirteen different microhabitat parameters related to the burrows of the Theraphosidae were examined to examine if the two tarantula species have specific microhabitat preference. The collected parameters data were analyzed using the chi-square test and T-test. The variations and similarities of the microhabitat parameters of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni were illustrated using principal component analysis (PCA) and non-metric multi-dimensional scaling (nm-MDS). It was shown that the type of trail near to the burrow, the height and diameter of the door entrance, soil and surrounding temperature, the distance of the burrow from the trail, plant species richness, and altitude difference between the burrows of Coremiocnemis cunicularia and Chilobrachys andersoni were statistically significant. PCA and nm-MDS analyses demonstrated that the habitat preferences of these two Theraphosidae species differed. In conclusion, this study contributed significant ecological knowledge regarding Theraphosidae, particularly on Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Further studies on various aspects of Theraphosidae are important for improved conservation management in the future.

Keywords: Conservation; ecology; microhabitat parameters; Mygalomorphae; Theraphosidae

 

Abstrak

Theraphosidae, yang lebih dikenali sebagai Tarantula, adalah salah satu famili di bawah infraorder Mygalomorphae. Sehingga hari ini, maklumat mengenai ekologi Theraphosidae di Pulau Pinang, Malaysia masih kurang, terutamanya berkaitan dengan ekologi dan sejarah semula jadi mereka. Penyelidikan ini dijalankan untuk mengkaji dan membandingkan parameter mikrohabitat Chilobrachys andersoni dan Coremiocnemis cunciularia di Pulau Pinang di enam tapak persampelan Pulau Pinang dari Mei 2022 hingga September 2022. Tiga belas parameter mikrohabitat berbeza yang dikaitkan dengan sarang Theraphosidae telah diperiksa untuk menentukan sama ada kedua spesies tarantula tersebut mempunyai kegemaran habitat yang berbeza. Data parameter yang dikumpul dianalisis menggunakan ujian khi kuasa dua dan ujian-T. Variasi dan persamaan parameter mikrohabitat Coremiocnemis cunicularia dan Chilobrachys andersoni telah diterangkan menggunakan analisis komponen utama (PCA) dan penskalaan multidimensi bukan metrik (nm-MDS). Telah didedahkan bahawa jenis denai yang dekat dengan sarang, ketinggian dan diameter pintu masuk, tanah dan suhu sekeliling, jarak lubang dari denai, kekayaan spesies tumbuhan dan perbezaan ketinggian antara sarang Coremiocnemis cunicularia dan Chilobrachys andersoni adalah signifikan secara statistik. Analisis PCA dan nm-MDS menunjukkan bahawa keutamaan habitat kedua-dua spesies Theraphosidae ini adalah berbeza. Kesimpulannya, kajian ini memberikan sumbangan pengetahuan ekologi yang penting mengenai Theraphosidae di Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Kajian lanjut mengenai pelbagai aspek Theraphosidae adalah penting untuk pengurusan pemuliharaan yang lebih baik pada masa hadapan.

Kata kunci: Ekologi; Mygalomorphae; parameter mikrohabitat; pemuliharaan; Theraphosidae

 

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*Corresponding author; email: amirrudin@umt.edu.my