The Malkaridae are a small spider family in Australia which recently absorbed the obscure family Pararchidae. The genus Malkara is recorded only for Queensland, though it may turn up elsewhere, especially in Northern NSW as it has been found in South East Queensland and another closely related undescribed genus from NSW is mentioned in Platnick and Forster, 1987. The features of the family include the presence of a pair of deep sulci (meaning grooves, crevices, or furrows) on the carapace margin between the palps and first legs and the occurrence of a greatly enlarged flange on the male palpal conductor that wraps around the palpal bulb and supports the embolus. Other family characteristics include the presence of numerous deep alveolations (hollows) on the carapace and often the margins of the sternum as well and the presence of a small, oval unsclerotized area situated just behind the epigastric furrow. Described Australian genera include Carathea Moran, 1986 (Tasmania), Malkara Davies, 1980 (Queensland), and Perissopmeros Butler, 1932 (NSW, ACT and Victoria).
Malkara loricata Davies, 1980
This small spider currently known only from Queensland is found in or near rainforest. It is normally a litter dweller, body length about 3mm. The abdomen is orange and the dome shaped cephalothorax is dark brown-red. The carapace is shaped like an inverted pudding bowl. Malkara loricata was... 