Calcutta: The Zoological Survey of India announced the discovery of two species of spiders in the Western Ghats region, a biodiversity hotspot, in southern India. A ZSI statement said the newly discovered species, Mimetus Spinatus and Mimetus Parvulus, highlight the importance of the region.
The addition of two new spiders brings the number of Mimetus species in India to three, all of them sighted in the southern part of the country, the researcher said.
Speaking about the discovery, ZSI Director Dr Dhriti Banerjee said, “The Western Ghats play a crucial role in the climatic conditions of the country and continue to surprise scientists with their high levels of endemism.” The discovery was made by a research team comprising Dr Souvik Sen along with Dr Sudhin PP and Dr Pradeep M Sankaran.
Mimetus Spinatus and Mimetus Parvulus were collected from Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Karnataka and Ernakulam district. Kerala respectively.
The discovery highlights the need for continued exploration and conservation efforts in the region, which is one of the world’s most biodiverse hotspots, he said Saturday.
Banerjee highlighted the importance of the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in preserving India’s rich biodiversity.
He said this discovery gains significance as it comes 118 years after the last Mimetus species was found in India.
“This long gap emphasizes the need for further studies and research on the taxonomy and biogeography of spiders in India.
“The current findings suggest that the true diversity of Mimetus in the country remains largely unexplored, with the potential for more species to be discovered in less explored areas of India,” he said.
With PTI inputs
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