Dolomedes indicus:
In the evergreen rainforests of the Western Ghats, researchers recently identified a new species of spider named Dolomedes indicus.
- It is a new species of spider.
- It was discovered in the evergreen rainforests of the Western Ghats, in the Wayanad district of Kerala.
- It marks the first time a spider of the Dolomedes genus, commonly known as raft or fishing spiders, has been described in India.
- Unlike the common house spiders that wait passively in webs, Dolomedes indicus is an active, semi-aquatic predator that uses the water’s surface tension to its advantage.
- It appears to be highly sensitive to its environment, thriving only in pristine, cool waters under a forest canopy.
- It could serve as a vital indicator species, helping conservationists monitor the health of freshwater ecosystems.
