Diversity of Amycoida and Astioida (Arachnida: Araneae: Salticidae: Salticinae) in India

Abstract

A total of 56 species under 14 genera were recorded in most of the states and union territories of India except Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Daman & Du and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, and Lakshadweep. Out of them, 27 species are endemic. The Amycoida is represented by only 2 species of a single genus (tribe Sitticini), one from Ladakh (Attulus avocator) and one from Jammu & Kashmir (Attulus diductus). Maximum number of species of these spiders were recorded from Kerala (25 species) followed by Tamil Nadu (20 species), West Bengal (17 species), Maharashtra (14 species) and Gujarat (11 species). Extensive survey for these spiders is required in almost all states particularly in those where these jumping spiders are either not recorded or very poorly recorded. Despite the spiders are most diverse group of predators and being crucial to the health of terrestrial ecosystems, none of the species recorded in India is listed in IUCN Red List.