New Wolf Spider Species

Prelims - Current events of National & International importance,

General issues on Environmental ecology, Bio-diversity & climate change.

Why in News?

Recently, researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) announced the discovery of a new spider species on Sagar Island in the Sundarbans.

Scientific name - Piratula acuminata, commonly known as wolf spider.
Genus - India’s first recorded instance of the Genus Piratula.
- It is a group of wolf spiders predominantly found across Asia, with limited distribution in Europe and North America.
Family – Lycosidae.
Size - Medium-sized, approximately 8-10 millimeters in length.
Appearance - Pale creamy white coloration interspersed with brown, chalk-white spots on its abdomen, and a pair of light brown stripes towards the rear.
Distinctive structural intricacies of its genitalia mark a novel identification for it.

wolf spider

Hunting Strategy - Unlike web-building spiders, these agile predators are ground-dwelling and ambush their prey.
Discovered in- Sagar Island, the largest island within the Sundarbans deltaic complex, reinforces the ecological richness of this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its unique ecosystems, shaped by alluvial deposits from the Ganga River, include vital mudflats and estuarine waters supporting a diverse array of flora and fauna.

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