CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -So far 287 species of jumping spiders are reported from India, says the study led by Sudhikumar A.V., head, Department of Zoology, Christ College, Irinjalakuda; and Sudhin P.P., Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Vimala College, Thrissur.

Detailed explanation-2: -Recently, an unidentified jumping spider (Anarrhotus sp.) from south-western India has been recorded as constructing planar orb-webs that serve as nocturnal retreats.

Detailed explanation-3: -Because scientists at the University of Georgia announced on March 3, 2022, that a new spider – the Joro spider, which arrived in the southeastern U.S. in 2013 – will eventually spread up and down the East Coast. This venomous spider can grow to the size of an adult’s palm.

Detailed explanation-4: -The number of spider species known from India have risen steadily from 1067 species (Tikader, 1987), 1442 species (Siliwal et al., 2005), 1520 species (Sebastian & Peter, 2009) to 1686 species (Keswani et al., 2012). Presently, 1924 species under 492 genera in 61 families are known.

Detailed explanation-5: -There are more than 4,000 known species of jumping spiders in the world, with about 300 species found in the United States and Canada, including the zebra spider, Salticus scenicus.