Abstract
A preliminary study was conducted to document spider diversity in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki District, Kerala State in southern India. The study was conducted from October to November 2012. A total of 101 species of spiders belonging to 65 genera from 29 families were identified from the sanctuary. This accounted for 6.98% of Indian spider species, 17.81% of Indian spider genera and 48.33% of the spider families of India. The dominant families were Lycosidae (11 species) and Araneidae (10). Two endemic genera of Indian spiders such as Annandaliella and Neoheterophrictus were found at Chinnar, each representing one species each, and belonging to the family Theraphosidae. A guild structure analysis of the spiders revealed seven feeding guilds such as orb weavers, stalkers, ground runners, foliage runners, sheet web builders, space web builders and ambushers.
Highlights
A preliminary study was conducted to document spider diversity in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki District, Kerala State in southern India
Spiders serve an important ecological role in the ecosystem functioning as they are predatory in nature and feed on several other insects and even small vertebrates
Spiders are considered as indicators of the health of the ecosystem (Mathew et al 2009)
Summary
A preliminary study was conducted to document spider diversity in Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki District, Kerala State in southern India. Spiders serve an important ecological role in the ecosystem functioning as they are predatory in nature and feed on several other insects and even small vertebrates. Spiders are considered as indicators of the health of the ecosystem (Mathew et al 2009). A world without spiders would have serious problems affecting the whole food chain and cause an imbalance in the ecosystem; their study has always remained neglected.
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