Redescription of the net-casting spider Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. (Araneae: Deinopidae) from India

Abstract

Goalpara was partitioned into Dhubri and Kokrajhar Districts and Jamduar fell under Kokrajhar District. The place is located in the eastern Raimona forest range, being part of the Ripu Reserve Forest under the Manas Biosphere Reserve [Forest Department, 2009]. This place is known for its magnificent scenic landscapes surrounded by Bhutan Hills harbouring diverse flora and fauna.The genus Asianopis consists of two species groups [Lin et al., 2020]: viz., the liukuensis-group and the zhuanghaoyuni-group, of which the former includes two nominal species -A. dumogae (Merian, 1911) and A. liukuensis (Yin, Griswold et Yan, 2002). D. goalparaensis belongs to this group, as it shares the following diagnostic characters thereof: proximally enlarged femora I; pear-shaped carapace; female chelicerae having four pro-and seven retromarignal teeth, with numerous denticles between them; epigyne with an anchor-shaped median plate; distinct copulatory openings; insemination ducts with three turns; and oval spermathecae [Lin et al., 2020].The present paper is aimed at the redescription of D. goalparaensis on the basis of newly collected material from the same district where the type locality lies. Detailed illustrations, a distributional map and notes on its natural history are provided. Materials and methodsSpecimens were hand collected during a night survey and photographed using a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V camera. The specimens were observed and photographed under a Leica EZ4 HD stereomicroscope enabled with a ABSTRACT: Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) comb.n. belonging to the liukuensis species group is redescribed on the basis of fresh specimens collected from Assam, India. Detailed illustrations, a distributional map and notes on its natural history are provided.

Web construction behavior of Deinopis cf. cylindracea (Deinopidae: Araneae) and its comparison to webs of other Deinopidae

“…The Deinopidae modified orb web is typical of the entire family (Coddington & Kuntner 2012; Basumatary et al 2020; Lin et al 2020). Different web characteristics may eventually be found to distinguish the species (e.g., A. subrufa , D. longipes FO Pickard-Cambridge, 1902, D. spinosa Marx, 1889, and D. amica Schiapelli & Gerschman, 1957) or to justify intrageneric groupings.…”

Biogeography and eye size evolution of the ogre-faced spiders

“…Instead, all analyses support a deep divergence between Western Hemisphere Deinopis and Eastern Hemisphere deinopids (Deinopis + Asianopis), and the UCE and UCE + COI phylogenies support divergence between Menneus and Eastern Hemisphere Deinopis. Recent taxonomic studies have transferred a number of the Asian Deinopis species into Asianopis16,55,56 ; however, Australian and Malagasy Deinopis have yet to be moved into Asianopis. Based on the…”

Notes on two Asian species of the spider family Deinopidae (Aranei)

“…

er, 1938 are not available in European museums. One Indian species, Asianopis goalparaensis (Tikader et Malhotra, 1978) has recently been redescribed [Basumatary et al, 2020]. The aim of this paper is to redescribe the type material of D. aruensis.

…”