Stegodyphus sarasinorum:
A team of Indian researchers has produced the first comprehensive molecular and functional profile of the venom gland of Stegodyphus sarasinorum.
- Stegodyphus sarasinorum is a colonial spider species.
- It is also called an Indian cooperative spider or an Indian social spider.
- It is found across the Indian subcontinent.
- It inhabits the semi-arid areas of the central and southern states.
- It lives in permanent colonies, constructs communal silk nests and captures prey cooperatively.
- The colony composition of S. sarasinorum is dominated by females.
- It is among only a small number of permanently social spider species known worldwide.
- They hunt and feed communally, and live in cooperatively built nests of silk and other matter. These nocturnal spiders feed together.
- Sexual dimorphism is observed among sarasinorum where males are smaller than females and darker in colour.
