Faunal diversity of Theridiidae (Araneomorphae: Araneae: Arachnida) in India: An updated checklist

Abstract

Faunal biodiversity of the comb-footed spiders (Theridiidae: Araneomorphae: Araneae: Arachnida) in different states of India and union territories is presented herewith. A total of 138 species placed under 42 genera of Theridiidae were recorded in all states and union territories of India except for Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Nagaland, and Punjab and two union territories, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, and Lakshadweep, out of which 45 species (32.6%) were strictly endemic. However, among them, 14 species seem to be case of erroneous report or misidentification. The maximum number of species (53 species) were recorded in Maharashtra followed by 51 from Kerala, 39 species from Gujarat, 33 species from Karnataka, 29 species from Tamil Nadu, 27 species from Jammu and Kashmir, 20 species from Uttarakhand, 17 species from West Bengal, 16 species from Assam, 15 species from Uttar Pradesh, 12 species each from Goa and Odisha, 11 species from Andaman and Nicobar Islands, 10 species each from Puducherry, Rajasthan and less than 10 species are recorded from other states. Four species are considerably widely distributed (in 10 or more states and union territories), viz. Chrysso angula (Tikader, 1970), Nesticodes rufipes (Lucas, 1846), Nihonhimea mundula (L. Koch, 1872), and Argyrodes argentatus O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1880. Several species of Theridiidae reported from India are recorded only from one state or from the type locality. Hence, extensive faunistic surveys for these spiders are required throughout the country.