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.
- 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.
References
- Deccan Herald| The New Wolf Spider in Sundarbans
- The Times of India| New Spider Species in Sundarbans
