Arthropods (Dec 2022)
An updated checklist of spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of Odisha state, India
Abstract
The present checklist of spider fauna of Odisha is the outcome of the compilation of all published literature up to March 15, 2022. A total of 265 species of spiders described under 162 genera belonging to 42 families are enlisted that have been described and/or recorded from 21 out of 30 districts of Odisha. Out of 42 families of spiders recorded, 7 families (Agelenidae, Amaurobiidae, Bemmeridae, Dictynidae, Filistatidae, Mimetidae, Oonopidae) are represented by the spiders identified only upto generic level. Additionally, a total of 58 species recorded from different districts of Odisha were identified only upto generic level (if one/more species of that genus is/are identified up to species level) and have been excluded from the total list of spiders. The maximum number of species of spiders were recorded from Khordha district (93 species) followed by Ganjam (84 species), Mayurbhanj (83 species), Koraput (76 species), Puri (28 species), Kendujhar (16 species), Sambalpur (12 species) and less than 10 species in other districts. The largest family recorded in Odisha is Araneidae (47 species, 23 genera) followed by Salticidae (42 species, 28 genera), Lycosidae (25 species, 12 genera), Thomisidae (15 species, 10 genera), Tetragnathidae (15 species, 4 genera), Theriidae (12 species, 11 genera), Sparassidae (11 species, 4 genera), Gnaphosidae (10 species, 5 genera) and Oxyopidae (10 species 2 genera). Two species of Theraphosidae (tarantulas) (Chilobrachys hardwickei (Pocock, 1895), Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli Smith, 2006) recorded from Odisha are put in Red List of IUCN. Remaining 33 families are represented by one to 6 species. No faunal survey of spiders so far conducted in 9 districts of Odisha. Most of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, forest areas, agricultural fields, human dwellings etc. of Odisha still await intensive and extensive survey programmes to record a near complete spider fauna.
