About Spartaeus karigiri:
- It a jumping spiders belongs the Spartaeinae subfamily 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
- 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.
- Despite these advancements, the study pointed out, much of India’s varied terrain remains under-studied, with many more species waiting to be uncovered.
