A new species of jumping spider, Carrhotus piperus, has been identified in the lower Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu.
This discovery highlights the rich biodiversity of the region.
The number of known Carrhotus species in India has now increased to 10, and 37 globally.
The species was described in detail by John Caleb T.D. from Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai, and M. Sampathkumar from ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, Bengaluru.
The species name, piperus, is derived from the pepper plant, indicating its unique habitat.
The spider is distinguishable by its prolateral protrusion and beak-shaped embolus, setting it apart from other species in its genus.
The detailed description of Carrhotus piperus was published in the Journal of Insect Biodiversity and Systematics.
The discovery enhances understanding of the Carrhotus genus and emphasizes the importance of ongoing biodiversity research in India.
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