Ligdus Garvale: New Spider Species Identified in Karnataka

Tags: Environment

A team of naturalists discovered a new species of jumping spider, Ligdus Garvale, in Garvale village, Kodagu district, Karnataka. The discovery has been published in thejournal Zootaxa.

An Overview of the News

• This is the second recorded instance of the Ligdus genus in 129 years, with the first being Ligdus Chelifer reported from Myanmar by Thorell in 1895.

• Ligdus Garvale is a high canopy jumper, often going unnoticed, and constructs a double-layered web for retreat that resembles Pseudoscorpions.

• Over 600 spider species have been identified in Karnataka, with an increase in jumping spider sightings.

About Jumping Spiders

• Jumping Spiders are the largest family of spiders, with over 6,380 species in the family Salticidae.

• Features include:

  • Brightly coloured

  • Diurnal (active during the day)

  • Four pairs of eyes

  • Size ranges from 2 to 22 mm.

About Karnataka

• Capital:- Bengaluru (Executive Branch)

• Chief minister:- Siddaramaiah

• Governor:- Thawar Chand Gehlot

• Bird:- Indian roller