Two New Species of Jumping Spiders in Meghalaya

• 11 Dec 2025

In December 2025, scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) announced the discovery of two new species of jumping spiders—Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwar—in Meghalaya, one of the world’s richest ecological frontiers.

Key Points

• New Species Identified: The discoveries include Asemonea dentis, only the third species of its genus found in India, and Colyttus nongwar, the second Indian species of the Oriental genus Colyttus.
• Ecological Significance: The findings highlight Meghalaya’s role within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, underscoring its status as a critical region for unexplored and endemic fauna.
• Published in Zootaxa: The study, featured in the latest issue of Zootaxa, emphasizes the urgent need for systematic biodiversity surveys across the northeast’s forests, sacred groves, and cliffs.
• Distinct Features of Asemonea dentis: Named after the Latin “dentis” (tooth), referencing a tooth-like projection in males. Males exhibit a greenish-brown body with a pale-yellow V-shaped marking, while females are creamy white with black patterns.
• Distinct Features of Colyttus nongwar: Named after Nongwar village in Meghalaya. The species shows notable sexual dimorphism, with a reddish-brown carapace and a light-brown abdomen featuring a creamy-white anterior band and five chevron-shaped white patches.