New data on Indian nursery-web spiders (Araneae: Pisauridae)

Area of Science:

• Arachnology
• Taxonomy
• Zoology

Background:

• Nursery-web spiders (family Pisauridae) in India require updated taxonomic data.
• Several genera, including Dendrolycosa, Euprosthenops, Hygropoda, Perenethis, and Polyboea, have complex species distributions and taxonomic histories.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present updated taxonomic data on selected genera of Indian nursery-web spiders.
• To resolve existing synonymies and discuss potential new ones within these genera.
• To describe a new species and redescribe existing ones based on new and type material.

Main Methods:

• Taxonomic revision of spider specimens from India.
• Designation of lectotypes and neotypes where necessary.
• Morphological analysis, including illustration of diagnostic features like the vulva.
• Comparison of type material with freshly collected specimens.

Main Results:

• A new synonymy is established: Dendrolycosa bobbiliensis is synonymized with D. robusta.
• The validity of several Dendrolycosa species is discussed, with potential synonymies proposed.
• Euprosthenops ellioti is redescribed, and the genus vulva is illustrated for the first time.
• A new species, Hygropoda kannimara sp. nov., is described from Kerala, India.
• Redescriptions of Perenethis sindica and P. vulpina are provided, with taxonomic uncertainties noted.

Conclusions:

• The study clarifies the taxonomy of several Indian nursery-web spider genera.
• New data supports the description of Hygropoda kannimara sp. nov. and resolves taxonomic ambiguities in Dendrolycosa and Perenethis.
• Further research is needed to confirm proposed synonymies and resolve remaining taxonomic questions.