A remarkable discovery has been made in the Devarayanadurga reserve forest, located near the origin of the Jayamangali river. A new species of spider has been identified and classified as a new genus by arachnologists.
New Genus Identification
The spider has been named Tenkana jayamangali, belonging to the Tenkana genus of jumping spiders (Salticidae, Plexippina) from South Asia. This classification was established by researchers Kiran Marathe, John TD Caleb, and Wayne P Maddison.
Research Team
The scientific paper detailing this discovery was co-authored by environmental enthusiasts:
- Krushnamegh Kunte
- BG Nisha
- Chinmay C Maliye (both software engineers)
- YT Lohit (affiliated with WWF)
Discovery Process
Nisha, Chinmay, and Lohit discovered both male and female specimens of the jumping spiders. They sent the specimens for DNA analysis, which revealed that their genetic makeup did not match any known species. This finding led to the classification of the new genus Tenkana.
Scientific Publication
The findings were published in the journal Zookeys on October 11. The paper elaborates on the phylogenetic relationships, identifying Tenkana jayamangali as a sister species to T. arkavathi and T. manu.
Distinctive Features
- Males of T. jayamangali:
- Pale hairs cover most of the carapace surface, leaving a small bald patch at the back.
- Comparison with Related Species:
- T. arkavathi and T. manu have gentler pale hairs on the carapace, forming narrower bands that taper at the back.
- The ocular area of T. jayamangali is uniformly covered with white hairs, while T. arkavathi features distinct V-shaped bands, and T. manu has a bald ocular area.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What is the name of the newly discovered spider genus?
- A) Colopsus
- B) Tenkana
- C) Salticidae
- D) Plexippina
Answer: B) Tenkana
- In which publication were the research findings published?
- A) Nature
- B) Zookeys
- C) Arachnology Today
- D) Environmental Science Journal
Answer: B) Zookeys
- What unique feature does Tenkana jayamangali males exhibit?
- A) A completely bald carapace
- B) Pale hairs covering most of the carapace with a bald patch
- C) Brightly colored patterns on the body
- D) Larger ocular area than other species
Answer: B) Pale hairs covering most of the carapace with a bald patch
- Who were the researchers involved in the discovery of Tenkana jayamangali?
- A) Only environmentalists
- B) Kiran Marathe, John TD Caleb, and Wayne P. Maddison
- C) Software engineers only
- D) Biologists from various universities
Answer: B) Kiran Marathe, John TD Caleb, and Wayne P. Maddison
- What does the ocular area of Tenkana jayamangali look like?
- A) It has distinctive V-shaped bands
- B) It is completely bald
- C) It is covered with white hairs uniformly
- D) It has a variety of bright colors
Answer: C) It is covered with white hairs uniformly