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Money Spider and Ant-mimicking Spider

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Environment
  • Published
    26th May, 2022

Context

Recently, Money spider, an ant-mimicking spider, was discovered at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary.

About Money Spider 

  • Money spiders, commonly found in European meadows, have been reported for the first time in the country from the Muthanga range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
  • The species is called so as it is “believed to bring luck” to the person who comes in contact with it.
  • The spider belongs to the family of dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae) under the genus Prosoponoides.
  • It has been given the name Prosoponoides biflectogynus.
  • Only six species of spiders belonging to this genus have been identified from across the world so far.
    • It is the first report of this genus from India.

Specifications

  • The male and the female money spiders are typically 3 mm and 4 mm long respectively.
  • Both sexes are dark brown and have irregular silver patches and black spots on the elliptical abdomen. 
  • There are numerous fine black spines on their olive green legs. 
  • Eight dark eyes are arranged in two rows.
  • Females build triangular webs in between dry tree twigs and feed on small insects, while males prefer to hide beneath dry leaves.
  • Two or more male spiders can be found in the web of a single female.

About Ant-mimicking spiders

  • Research team also discovered ant-mimicking spiders, belonging to the group of jumping spiders, from the Mananthavady range. 
  • They belong to the family of
  • The ant-mimicking spider has been named Toxeus alboclavus.
  • They perfectly mimic ants by lifting their front pair of legs while walking as a mechanism to escape from potential predators. 
  • Only three species of this genus have been reported from India, and this is the first species reported from the Western Ghats.

Specifications

  • The male and the female spiders of this species grow up to 4 mm and 6 mm long respectively. 
  • A pair of white stripes on the dark brown abdomen of females makes them distinct from other spiders of this group.
  • The male of the species are characterized by a brown cephalic region and black thorax with white hairs.
  • The forward-projecting fangs have a characteristic shape of an antler.
  • Long spines are present on the base of each leg.

About Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS)

  • Located in Kerala, WWS is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It was established in 1973.
  • Spread over 344.44 sq km, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the tiger reserves of Nagerhole and Bandipur of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu.
  • Kabini river (a tributary of Cauvery river) flows through the sanctuary.
  • The forest types include South Indian Moist Deciduous forests, West coast semi-evergreen forests and plantations of teak, eucalyptus and Grewelia.
  • Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther,Sambar, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Nilgiri langur, Bonnet macaque, Common langur, Wild dog, common otter, Malabar giant squirrel etc are the major mammals.

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