Context:
A team of Indian researchers has discovered a new species of jumping spider from the subfamily Spartaeinae, marking a significant extension of the known distribution of the genera Spartaeus and Sonoita into the Indian subcontinent. These genera were previously known only from Southeast Asia and Africa.
Discovery Details
The new species, named Spartaeus karigiri, was identified in Devarayanadurga, Karnataka, specifically near Karigiri (Elephant Hill)—the location after which the species is named. The discovery was led by John Caleb T.D., a researcher at Saveetha Medical College, Chennai.
- Males were found hiding in crevices and rocky areas.
- Females were observed guarding egg clutches in the wild.
- Additional specimens were found in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu.
The research, published in the European Journal of Taxonomy on June 11, highlights the first recorded presence of Spartaeus and Sonoita spiders in India.
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