New Species
of Rare Jumping Spiders
Prelims:
Environment &
Ecology
Mains:
GS Paper
III-Environment, Science & Technology
Current
relevance:
A team of researchers from India and
Sri Lanka has discovered three new species of the rare jumping spider
genus Onomastus, with two species found in Kerala and one in
Sri Lanka.
At
a glance:
1. The three new Onomastus
species were
discovered in the Brahmagiri Hills (Wayanad) and Silent Valley
National Park (Palakkad) in Kerala, as well as in the mountain forests of
Sri Lanka.
2. Onomastus (genus of jumping
spiders)
·
These
spiders are small, agile predators known for their excellent vision and
jumping ability.
·
It
is diurnal (active during the day) and rely on their eyesight rather
than webs to hunt prey.
·
They
are mainly found on leaves, shrubs, and forest vegetation in tropical
forests.
·
These
spiders are native to South and Southeast Asia, in India it is
distributed across western ghats (Kerala and Tamil Nadu)
·
These
spiders are beneficial predators, feeding mainly on small insects and
helping maintain ecological balance.
3. Silent Valley National Park:
·
It
is located in Palakkad district of Kerala, forms part of the Nilgiri
Biosphere Reserve lies within the Western Ghats.
·
It
is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and is renowned for its
tropical evergreen forests and high level of endemism.
4. Brahmagiri Hills:
Located along the Kerala–Karnataka
border in the Western Ghats and are known for their rich endemic
flora and fauna, forming an important wildlife habitat connected to protected
forest landscapes.
Source: THE HINDU -https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/researchers-discover-three-new-species-of-rare-jumping-spiders/article71210387.ece