Money Spider

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 3

Money Spider, ant-mimicking spider discovered at Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Money Spider

• Money spiders, commonly found in European meadows, have been reported for the first time in the country from the Muthanga range of the Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
• The species is called so as it is “believed to bring luck” to the person who comes in contact with it.
• The spider belongs to the family of dwarf spiders (Linyphiidae) under the genus Prosoponoides.
• It has been given the name Prosoponoides biflectogynus.
• Only six species of spiders belonging to this genus have been identified from across the world so far.
• It is the first report of this genus from India and hence no extensive studies have been conducted on this species of spiders in the country
• The male and the female money spiders are typically 3 mm and 4 mm long respectively.
• Both sexes are dark brown and have irregular silver patches and black spots on elliptical abdomen.
• There are numerous fine black spines on their olive green legs.
• Eight dark eyes are arranged in two rows
• Females build triangular webs in between dry tree twigs and feed on small insects, while males prefer to hide beneath dry leaves.
• Two or more male spiders can be found in the web of a single female.

Ant-mimicking spiders

• Research team also discovered ant-mimicking spiders, belonging to the group of jumping spiders, from the Mananthavady range.
• They belong to the family of Salticidae.
• The ant-mimicking spider has been named Toxeus alboclavus
• They perfectly mimic ants by lifting their front pair of legs while walking as a mechanism to escape from potential predators.
• Only three species of this genus have been reported from India, and this is the first species reported from the Western Ghats
• The male and the female spiders of this species grow up to 4 mm and 6 mm long respectively.
• A pair of white stripes on the dark brown abdomen of females makes them distinct from other spiders of this group.
• The male of the species are characterized by a brown cephalic region and black thorax with white hairs.
• The forward-projecting fangs have a characteristic shape of an antler.
• Long spines are present on the base of each leg.

Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (WWS)

• Located in Kerala, WWS is an integral part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It was established in 1973.
• Spread over 344.44 sq km, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary is contiguous to the tiger reserves of Nagerhole and Bandipur of Karnataka and Mudumalai of Tamil Nadu.
• Kabini river (a tributary of Cauvery river) flows through the sanctuary.
• The forest types include South Indian Moist Deciduous forests, West coast semi-evergreen forests and plantations of teak, eucalyptus and Grewelia.
• Elephant, Gaur, Tiger, Panther,Sambar, Spotted deer, Barking deer, Wild boar, Sloth bear, Nilgiri langur, Bonnet macaque, Common langur, Wild dog, common otter, Malabar giant squirrel etc are the major mammals.
• Other wildlife parks within the Reserve (Nilgiri Biosphere) are: Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary, Bandipur National Park, Nagarhole National Park, Mukurthi National Park and Silent Valley.