Pilia malenadu:
A team of researchers exploring biodiversity in the Western Ghats recently discovered a new species of spider named Pilia malenadu.It is a new species of spider.
- It belongs to Pilia, a genus of jumping spiders.
- It was discovered in Madhugundi in the Mudigere taluk of Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka, at the foothills of the Western Ghats.
- The researchers named it “Pilia malenadu”, to give credit to the place it was found.
- The discovery is significant because the last time a species of spiders belonging to the pilia genus was discovered was about 123 years ago (1902) in Kerala.
- Further, the researchers, for the first time, have found both male and female spiders of the species.
- These spiders were found in only two plant species — Memecylon umbellatum and Memecylon malabaricum.
- In fact, the spiders were found concealed between the leaves of these plants.
