Spartaeus Karigiri

Spartaeus Karigiri Latest News

Recently, a team of researchers has identified a new species of jumping spider and named it as Spartaeus karigiri.      

About Spartaeus Karigiri

• It is a jumping spider belonging to the Spartaeinae subfamily found in southern India.
• It is for the first time that the genera Spartaeus and Sonoita (specific groups within subfamily), previously known only from Southeast Asia and Africa, have been found in India. 
• It is named after Karigiri, or Elephant Hill, in Devarayanadurga, Karnataka, where the spiders were first observed. 

Features of Spartaeus Karigiri

• It is known for its intelligent hunting skills and web-invasion tactics. 
• These species are known for their keen eyesight and unique hunting methods, often deceiving other spiders by mimicking prey. 
• With these findings, India’s spider fauna under the Spartaeinae subfamily has grown to 15 species across 10 genera.
• In addition, Sonoita cf. lightfooti, a species previously thought to be confined to Africa, was also identified in Karnataka.

Source: TH