Mouhot's Rolled-Leaf Spider

Great work, @Chun and thanks for the additional info :)

Phew.. brilliant thanks Chun

After some extensive research - reading the ancient original descriptions, checking the current official spider record data, and viewing through citizen scientist's photos, I could still not provide a clear identification.

There are actually 3 recorded species that has this appearance - Poltys mouhoti, P. idae, and P. longitergus. A recent discovery in 2016 suggested that there could be more undescribed species.

The original descriptions of these species do not have clear illustrations and diagnostic descriptions. Photos from citizens scientists in the internet are not realible too. These 3 species (plus possibly other new species) are very similar in appearance and the only clear variation is the color and patterns. The current official spider records are not updated too as their distribution records are limited. Citizen scientists have been sharing photos in areas not recorded scientifically yet. So Albert Kang's opinion of them being widespread than what was known could be actually correct but that will only make identification difficult as species distribution can overlap.

So what I can say know is that we really can't trust any of these references online - citizen scientists' data, official database records, and even the original descriptions. The best way to identify is still through examining the original holotype specimens or through DNA tests, which means that these Poltys have to be collected.

Albert Kang has already recorded 3 of these, each of them with different colors, patterns, and locations. So I really cannot say whether all these species are the same or they could be different species. If depending on the official record for identification, Poltys idae would be the best ID as it is recorded from China and Borneo, showing its widespread distribution. However, as I have said just now, even the official data can't be trusted yet. More research will be needed to build a good understanding of all these long-tailed Poltys first.

Thanks for the extra info Albert! It's always worth checking GBIF for official location records as Wikipedia is often not up to date. We've seen a few cases recently. I agree we need to send Chun there :-) I am still completely blown away by this spider: so remarkable!

Thanks, @Daniele.
Again, this was described from back in 19th century and sometimes, even the origin country data could be doubtful, it has happened many times.

As it was named after Mouhoti, there is also a Phasmid named after him, also back in the 19th century. Material of holotype was 'purchased'. And distribution mentioned were Indo-China (Vietnam), Cambodia and subsequently to Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Sumatra. I found this species in Penang, Malaysia.

So, its also possible that this Spider can be more widespread instead of being confined to Vietnam only.

We need Ranger @ChunXingWong to do some taxanomy work here, its his area of interest! ;)

GBIF also has it only officially recorded in Vietnam:
http://www.gbif.org/species/2158344

Thanks, @Christine Y. :)

Wow, that's incredible!

Thanks, @ChunXingWong for the likely ID.
The guy in KL (KurtOrion) who did a lot of herping trips have taken quite a few pictures of this Spider at various places in Peninsular Malaysia and he IDed them as Poltys mouhoti - Mouhot's Rolled-leaf Spider. And as you mentioned, Wikipedia indicates that Poltys mouhoti is reported from Vietnam. However, it is most likely due to lack of field data. Maybe you can go and collect them to study it, if it could be a new species or at least a sub-species ;)

Thanks, @Lauren, @Mark and @shekainah :)

Wow! freaks me out.

Wow.. nice one.

Poltys mouhoti is only from Vietnam though. Arachnologists will have to collect it and examine it under the microscope to compare it with the scientific descriptions to confirm it.

Wow! Very weird!

Hi AlbertKang. This is one of the very best spider discovery you have. It is a Poltys species where not many have photographed this. Other photographers which have found the same species identify it as a Poltys mouhoti. Thanks for sharing this!