JALAH, Sept 7 - A rare spider genus Hyllus diardi (Walckenaer 1837), a jumping spider, has been discovered in India for the first time by a team of researchers in Kokrajhar district.
A researcher scholar from Bodoland University, Parish Basumatary, discovered the jumping spider recently in Jharbari forest range of Chirang Reserve Forest under Manas Biosphere Reserve in Kokrajhar district. The specimens were collected during a nocturnal survey inside the reserve forest.
Previously reported in Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, China and Java, this species of spider is distinguishable by its distinctive large hairy body and unique abdominal patterns and structure of epigyne. It can be distinguished from other Indian congeners by the presence of distinctive two chambered spermatheca in female internal genitalia.
The recent finding was published in Acta Arachnologica, a journal devoted to the study of arachnids (spiders). This journal is published by Arachnological Society of Japan.
