FAUNAL BIODIVERSITY OF TETRAGNATHIDAE (ARANEOMORPHAE: ARANEAE: ARACHNIDA) IN INDIA

Abstract

Faunal biodiversity of the long-jawed spiders (Tetragnathidae: Araneomorphae: Araneae: Arachnida) in different states of India and union territories is presented herewith. A total of 77 species placed under 17 genera of Tetragnathidae were recorded in all states and union territories of India except Nagaland, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Delhi and Ladakh, out of which, 30 species (39%) were endemic. However, among them 8 species seem to be erroneous report or misidentification. Maximum number of species were recorded from Kerala (35 species) followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (24 species in each), Karnataka (22 species), Gujarat (21 species), Odisha (15 species) and less number in other states. Eleven species of Tetragnathidae are widely distributed, viz. Tetragnatha mandibulata Walckenaer, 1842 (23 states, 3 union territories), Leucauge decorata (Blackwall, 1864) (22 states, 2 union territories), Tetragnatha javana (Thorell, 1890) (19 states, 1 union territory), Leucauge celebesiana (Walckenaer, 1841) (17 states, 1 union territory), Guizygiella indica (Tikader and Bal, 1980) (15 states), Leucauge tessellata (Thorell, 1887) (14 states), Opadometa fastigata (Simon, 1877) (14 states), Tylorida ventralis (Thorell, 1877) (13 states, 1 union territory), Tetragnatha ceylonica O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1869 (11 states, 2 union territories), Tetragnatha keyserlingi Simon, 1890 (12 states, 1 union territory), and Tetragnatha andamanensis Tikader, 1977 (10 states, 2 union territories). About half of the species of Tetragnathidae recorded in India are recorded only in one state or from the type localities. Hence, extensive faunistic surveys for these spiders are required particularly in north Indian states and union territories.