New Species of Jumping Spiders

Jumping Spiders Latest News

A team of scientists recently discovered two new species of jumping spiders named Mogrus shushka and Mogrus pune, thriving in the country’s drylands and urban green spaces.

About Mogrus shushka and Mogrus pune

• These are two newly discovered arachnids belonging to the genus Mogrus,  a group of medium-sized jumping spiders typically found in the arid regions of Africa, Europe, and Asia.
• Mogrus shushka:
  • It was identified in Desert National Park, Rajasthan, a region better known for its sand dunes and iconic desert wildlife. 
  • Derived from the Sanskrit word shushka for ‘dry,‘ the name reflects the extreme, arid conditions in which the spider thrives. 
  • It is highly adapted to intense heat, low humidity, and sandy terrain, conditions that define the Thar desert.
  • Males of M. shushka stand out from their closest relative, M. cognatus, by having a distinct triangular-shaped bump on their mating appendage, rather than a thumb-shaped one. 
  • The females feature a deep, semi-circular depression on their underside with short, closely spaced internal ducts. 
• Mogrus pune:
  • It was discovered in the Alfa Laval Biodiversity Park in Maharashtra. It was named after the city of Pune.
  • Male M. pune can be easily distinguished by a heart-shaped bump on its reproductive organ and uniquely curved structures, while the female possesses a distinctively wide and membranous central depression.

Source: RM

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