ZSI staff discovers 2 new spider species in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu

Researchers of Zoological Survey of India have found two new species of leaping spiders from southern India.
| Photograph Credit score: Rao G N/The Hindu

Researchers of Zoological Survey of India have found two new species of leaping spiders from southern India, a press release issued by the surveyor stated on Monday.

The 2 discoveries embrace Phintella dhritiae from Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka and Phintella platnicki from Salem district of Tamil Nadu.

Phintella dhritiae has been named in honour of Dr Dhriti Banerjee, the primary lady director of the ZSI, the assertion stated.

Banerjee had taken over because the director of the more-than-100-year-old establishment in August 2021.

Phintella platnicki has additionally been named in honour of late Dr Norman Platnick for his contribution to the sector of arachnology, it stated.

Arachnology is the scientific examine of arachnids, which comprise spiders and associated invertebrates corresponding to scorpions and pseudoscorpions.

The newly described species, which belong to the genus Phintella, are small-to-medium sized, vibrant spiders, normally coated with metallic iridescent scales, the assertion stated.

The pinnacle is considerably rounded or oval, comparatively excessive with a definite posterior slope, whereas the stomach is ovoid or elongate, normally with pale and darkish horizontal bands.

Members of this genus usually inhabit below leaves and barks of shrubs and grasses, the ZSI assertion stated.

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Earlier than the invention of those new species of leaping spiders, 12 species of Phintella have been recognized to be legitimate from India.

The explorer staff comprised Souvik Sen and Sudhin P P, from ZSI, Kolkata and John T D Caleb from Chennai.

The invention of those new species got here up within the March 2023 concern of Arthropoda Selecta, a prestigious journal.

Earlier this 12 months, the staff described one other two new leaping spiders – Stenaelurillus megamalai and Stenaelurillus neyyar – from the Western Ghats area.