Two new species of jumping spiders discovered in Western Ghats

University of Kerala researchers discover two new jumping spider species in India's Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, expanding Epidelaxia's range.

A collaborative research involving the University of Kerala has reported the discovery of two new species of jumping spiders belonging to the genus Epidelaxia from the Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary. This marks the first time the genus has been recorded from India, extending its known range from Sri Lanka to other parts of the subcontinent.

The research team behind the find includes Asima A. and G. Prasad from the Department of Zoology of the University of Kerala; John T.D. Caleb from Saveetha Medical College & Hospitals, Chennai; and Mathew M.J. from the Centre for Arachnology Research at Bharata Mata College, Kochi.

Their work, published in the February 2025 issue of Zootaxa, a peer-reviewed journal, has not only added two new species to the region’s checklist, but has also shed light on the rich biodiversity of the Western Ghats.

The two new species, Epidelaxia falciformis sp. nov. and Epidelaxia palustris sp. nov., were discovered during field expeditions to Kulathupuzha in Kollam in December 2022 and April 2023.

These are distinctively characterised by their striking physical features, which include a prominent yellow triangular-shaped mark on the prosoma (the front part of the body) of females and unique traits of the copulatory organs in both males and females. Males of E. falciformis have a brown carapace with a yellow-brown stripe, while males of E. palustris feature a pale brown band along the side of their bodies. The females exhibit similar colouration, with the added feature of white orbital setae around their eyes.

The researchers add that the species vary slightly in size, with E. falciformis measuring 4.39 mm. E. palustris measures 4.57 mm in males and 3.69 mm in females. These spiders have been described as highly adapted to their environment, inhabiting the dense foliage of the Western Ghats. The genus was previously considered endemic to Sri Lanka.