New spider species identified in Maharashtra, Kerala

Two new spider species have been discovered at Amboli in Maharashtra and Silent Valley National Park in Kerala while another researcher has identified the male of a previously known species from the Northern Western Ghats Satara and Sindhudurg districtsA research paper titled ldquoRevision of Indian Ischnothelidae Arachnida Araneae and Descriptions of Two New Species of Indothele Coyle 1995rdquo was published in the European Journal of Taxonomy The lead authors are Rishikesh Tripathi Gautam Kadam Danniella Sherwood and Ambalaparambil V SudhikumarSpeaking to midday lead author Rishikesh Tripathi highlighted the significance of the discovery describing two new species of the genus IndothelemdashIndothele amboli sp nov from Amboli and Indothele silentvalley sp Nov from Silent Valley National Park ldquoIn addition the paper provides the first description of the male of I mala and resolves a longstanding taxonomic confusion by transferring Ischnothele indicola to the genus Macrothelerdquo he saidMale Habrocestum mookambikaenseldquoThe study corrects misidentifications such as the confusion between I mala and I dumicola and refines the catalogue of the family Ischnothelidae in India This is vital for biodiversity inventories and future ecological and evolutionary studiesrdquo he explainedTripathi further noted that the discovery sheds light on the unique distribution of Indothele species which are endemic to the Indian subcontinent ldquoThe differentiation between mainland species and the islandendemic I lanka from Sri Lanka offers a valuable case study of how geographical isolation and environmental factors shape evolutionrdquo he addedSpiders play a crucial ecological role as natural pest controllers Tripathi said ldquoAs efficient predators they regulate insect populations reducing potential pest outbreaks Their contribution to energy flow in food webs and nutrient recycling benefits soil health and plant growth Moreover due to their sensitivity to habitat changes and pollutants spiders serve as bioindicators offering insights into ecosystem healthrdquoAnother significant discovery the previously unknown male of Habrocestum mookambikaense Araneae Salticidae Hasariini was documented in a research paper published in the Arachnology Journal Lead author Rajesh V Sanap along with Gautam Kadam Rishikesh Tripathi and John T D Caleb contributed to the studyAccording to wildlife researcher Rajesh Sanap the species was originally identified in Karnataka based solely on a female specimen ldquoOur study extends its known range northward by approximately 430 km with new records from Satara and Sindhudurg districts This suggests a broader distribution of the genus Habrocestum in India than previously recognisedrdquo Sanap explainedldquoThe extended distribution highlights the need for further surveys in the Western Ghats a biodiversity hotspot to document spider diversity more comprehensivelyrdquo he saidDescribing the male spider Sanap detailed its brown carapace covered in fine black hairs a distinct lateral band of white hairs and a trapezoidal eye field with black and rusty brown hairs Its palpal organ features a coneshaped embolus with a notch near the tip and a long sharp Retrolateral Tibial Apophysis RTA The female in contrast has a dark brown carapace with black margins a black eye field covered in golden brown hairs a yellowishbrown clypeus and an oval abdomen with faint chevron markingsDiscussing habitat he noted that the species thrives in open grassy areas hilltops and shaded forest paths in Maharashtra and KarnatakaSpiders are vital microhabitat specialists highly sensitive to environmental changes making them excellent indicators of ecosystem health As key players in the food web they control insect populations and even minor environmental shifts can lead to drastic declines in their numbers Protecting these creatures and their habitats is essential to maintaining biodiversity and preserving the intricate ecological balance