The tioman -group

Diagnosis: Medium-sized to large (carapace length of males 6.23-11.30, carapace length 6.01-10.04), uniformly dark-coloured spiders. Similar to species of the malayanus -group, distinguished by distal edge of contrategulum proventrally not ending in a V-shaped or U-shaped row of denticles; ventral process of contrategulum well-developed, basally wide (Figs 10B, 11F, 14 C-D); para-embolic plate more elevated (Figs 11 B-E, 14E-F); poreplate with CDO medium-sized and undivided (Fig. 12A, C, F) or large and divided by a more or less distinctly developed longitudinal bridge (Figs 13A, C-D, G; 14I); receptacular cluster mediumsized, more or less distinctly divided into two halves by a longitudinal trench (Figs 12B, D-E, G; 13B, E-F, H; 14J).

Species included: Liphistius negara sp. nov., L. panching and L. tioman .

Relationships: Species of the tioman -group are similar and probably closely related to species of the malayanus -group. Liphistius panching and L. negara sp. nov. from the mainland are more similar to each other than they are to the very distinct island-dwelling L. tioman .

Distribution: Eastern part of peninsular Malaysia and an offlying island (Fig. 1, localities 10-12).