AN UPDATED CHECKLIST OF SPIDERS (ARACHNIDA: ARANEAE) OF GOA, INDIA

Abstract

An updated checklist of spider diversity in Goa is presented herewith. A total of 173 species of spiders described under 128 genera belonging to 23 families are enlisted that have been recorded/described/located from all subdistricts of Goa. A total of 32 species recorded from Goa were identified only upto generic level. Most speciose family of spider recorded in Goa is Araneidae (37 species) followed by Salticidae (35 species), Thomisidae (20 species), Theriidae (14 species), Tetragnathidae (13 species) and other families with less than 10 species. The maximum number of spider species were recorded from Quepem subdistrict of South Goa (123 species), followed by Tiswadi (85 species), Ponda (36 species), Dharbandora (21 species), Salcete and Sanguem (19 species each), Canacona (17 species), Sattari (15 species), Bardez (12 species), Mormugao (7 species), Bicholim (5 species), and Pernem (3 species). Most of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, forest areas, agricultural fields, human dwellings etc. within the state still await intensive and extensive surveys to record the spider fauna.