7 months ago
2
A caller monsoon survey astatine the Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary has led to a singular discovery—the archetypal grounds of the spider taxon Araneus nox successful India.
Researchers accidental this orb-weaving spider had antecedently been documented lone from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and parts of Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam.
First described successful 1877 by French arachnologist Eugène Simon from Basilan successful the Philippines, Araneus nox is known for spinning near-perfect, vertically oriented circular webs connected vegetation and histrion branches. During the survey, individuals were spotted astatine heights ranging from waist level to astir 7 ft.
“This is simply a important finding. Only pistillate Araneus nox spiders had been reported from different countries. This is the archetypal clip that some antheral and pistillate specimens person been identified from India,” said Mathew M. J., elder idiosyncratic astatine the Centre for Arachnology Research, Bharata Mata College (Autonomous), Thrikkakara, who led the survey.
“Other caller and uncommon spider taxon were besides recovered successful the sanctuary during the survey, and studies are nether mode to uncover much details of the species,” said Dr. Mathew.
“The find of Araneus nox spiders successful India, alongside assorted Western Ghats endemics, highlights the value of semipermanent taxonomic probe and systematic faunal monitoring. Continued surveys volition assistance uncover hidden diversity, pass conservation planning, and fortify efforts to support this biodiversity hotspot,” said Dr. Mathew.
According to researchers, the survey besides recorded 3 taxon endemic to the Western Ghats—Bowie cochinensis (Ctenidae), Prosoponoides idukkiense (Linyphiidae), and the uncommon Mimetus parvulus (Mimetidae). “These finds reenforce the uniqueness of the portion and emphasise the sanctuary’s relation arsenic a situation for susceptible and narrow-range species,” said Dr. Mathew.
A squad from the Centre for Arachnology Research of the assemblage conducted the survey successful 2 phases—from August 27 to 30 and September 19 to 20. The survey has recorded 81 taxon of spiders.
The team, besides comprising probe assistants Jayadevan C.S. and Ashwin G., documented 82 taxon belonging to 20 families. “Recording specified numbers during the monsoon powerfully indicates the sanctuary’s precocious arachnid diverseness and wide ecological health,” said Dr. Mathew.
Idukki Wildlife Warden G. Jayachandran said that surveys of antithetic taxon were continuing successful the sanctuary. “The amphibian and spider surveys person already been completed, and we volition behaviour a food survey successful the sanctuary soon. The antithetic types of surveys purpose astatine uncovering changes successful patterns successful the sanctuary,” said the officer.
