“Oecobius thar” new species of spider discovered in India

New Delhi: A new species of spider was discovered in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan, and named “Oecobius thar”. The researchers described it a “new species” of Oecobius Lucas, 1846 from the Thar Desert ecoregion in India, based on both sexes.

The new species was discovered by Rishikesh Tripathi of Christ College, Irinjalakuda ,  Department of Zoology Masters Biodiversity and co-author Danniella Sherwood, of  Arachnology Research Association,  Arachnologist specializing in the systematics of spiders and the conservation.

“Our subsequent comparison of this material against other described species of Oecobius across the rest of the world demonstrated that the morphology of both sexes was unique. In this work, we describe this new species based on both sexes” said the author in the research paper.

According to the description in the scientific journal, the Male part is in alcohol color,  carapace and dorsal and lateral faces of palp dark brown; legs beige, with black annulation on all segments, with total length 1.77. Carapace 0.75  long, 0.82 wide.

The Female paratype: Colour (in alcohol): carapace dark brown; legs beige and non-annulated; opisthosoma overall beige, overlain with black setae, dorso-median aspect with foliate pattern and two parallel black blotches, spinnerets and ventral face of opisthosoma mouse brown.  Total length 1.89. Carapace 0.66 long, 0.72 wide.

The Oecobius thar was discovered in Thar desert,  with the support of CAMPA funded Bustard Recovery Program of Wildlife Institute of India.

The author described “Thar Desert” as inhospitable habitat that constitutes its ecoregion and the vegetation, particularly intermittent grasslands, in this area are host to a relatively high diversity of spiders presently comprising 14 families and at least 35 species, although these numbers continue to rise.