By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 9: In a major boost to India’s biodiversity records, the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) has announced the discovery of two species of jumping spiders—Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwar—from the ecologically rich landscapes of Meghalaya.
The breakthrough further reaffirms Northeast India’s position within the Indo-Burma mega biodiversity hotspot.
The newly described species belong to the Salticidae family, commonly known as jumping spiders, distinguished by their sharp vision, agile movements and predatory behaviour that relies on precision leaps rather than web-building.
Asemonea dentis
This species becomes only the third known Indian representative of the genus Asemonea. It derives its name from a tooth-like projection on the male’s palpal femur—a unique morphological trait aiding identification.
Males display a greenish-brown hue with a pale-yellow V-shaped pattern on the abdomen, while females are characterised by a creamy-white body marked with bold black designs.
Colyttus nongwar
On the other hand, the second Indian species recorded under the rarely documented Oriental genus Colyttus, C. nongwar is named after Nongwar village in Meghalaya, where it was discovered.
Both males and females share an oval reddish-brown carapace and a light-brown abdomen featuring a creamy-white front band followed by five distinct chevron-shaped patches.
Lead researcher, Dr. Souvik Sen, accompanied by co-author Dr. Sudhin PP, highlighted the broader impact of the discovery.
“These discoveries are just a glimpse of the exceptional biodiversity of Northeast India. Very few systematic surveys have been conducted here, and many more species are undoubtedly waiting to be found,” Dr. Sen stated.
ZSI Director, Dr. Dhriti Banerjee, stressed the urgent need for expanded scientific exploration. “Findings like these underscore the importance of conducting extensive surveys in the Northeast. Meghalaya’s forests, sacred groves and cliffs are irreplaceable ecological assets that demand protection,” she said.
The full scientific descriptions of the new species have been published in the latest edition of Zootaxa, an international peer-reviewed journal dedicated to zoological taxonomy.
The ZSI has urged sustained conservation initiatives to safeguard Meghalaya’s unique ecological heritage—the true “abode of clouds”.
