Pilia malenadu

Pilia malenadu Latest News

A team of researchers exploring biodiversity in the Western Ghats recently discovered a new species of spider named Pilia malenadu.

About Pilia malenadu

• It is a new species of spider.
• It belongs to Pilia, a genus of jumping spiders.
• It was discovered in Madhugundi in the Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
• The researchers named it “Pilia malenadu”, to give credit to the place it was found.
• The discovery is significant because the last time a species of spiders belonging to the pilia genus was discovered was about 123 years ago (1902) in Kerala. 
• Further, the researchers, for the first time, have found both male and female spiders of the species.
• These spiders were found in only two plant species — Memecylon umbellatum and Memecylon malabaricum.
• In fact, the spiders were found concealed between the leaves of these plants.

Source: TH

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