New Delhi:
Are you scared of spiders? Well, everyone is, but it is time you give up on your fear and visit Kerala.
We agree that irrespective of sizes, Spiders create a scary environment wherever they follow. However, on Sunday, the species came into spotlight for completely different reasons.
In a significant finding, six new species of spiders have been discovered in Kuttivanam, Idukki district in Kerala by the members of the Biodiversity Research Center of Christ College in Irinjalakuda.
This is the second time the same team has discovered new species. Earlier, in 2014, they discovered three unknown species at the proposed airport site at Aranmula.
The six spider species were discovered at Harithavanam, an area which maintains proximity on the banks of Aluva Sivarathri Manappuram River.
The discovered species comes under the genus Argyrodes, Trachelas, Dendrolycosa, Tetragntha, and Chrysso leading to a detailed investigation beginning from June 5 which incidentally is World Environment Day.
According to Dr. Sudhikumar, principal investigator, “The first species- Argyrodes is highly venomous and hails its origin from black widow family. The female spiders eat their partners after nuptials and live in an irregular web weaved in between green leaves. Second species come under the genus Tetragntha, which is a yellow coloured spider and has long jaws. They have four dark spots on the back of their abdomen and dark bands on the joints of legs. The spider is covered by white colored scales on the dorsal surface of its abdomen. Another species belongs to the genus Tracheal, which can be identified by its eight diamonds like sparkling eyes on its dark brown head. The fifth and sixth spider belongs to genus Dendrolycosa and Chrysso respectively.”
