Meghalaya cave yields new spider species, puts India on global ray spider map

ROOPAK GOSWAMI

Shillong, July 18: Deep inside the limestone caves of Meghalaya, scientists have discovered a tiny spider no bigger than two millimetres that is rewriting India’s arachnid records and reinforcing the state’s reputation as one of the country’s richest biodiversity hotspots.

Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have identified Simonia lawbah, a previously unknown species of ray spider found in Krem Lawbah (Pamskei) near Lawbah village in Mawsynram. The discovery marks the first-ever record of the genus Simonia in India, expanding the country’s known diversity of ray spiders.

Published in the international journal Zootaxa, the study was carried out by Supradipta Dutta, Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin, Souvik Sen, Dhriti Banerjee of ZSI Kolkata and Rajib Goswami of the Zoological Survey of India’s North Eastern Regional Centre in Shillong.

The microscopic spider, measuring less than 2 mm, belongs to the family Theridiosomatidae, commonly known as ray spiders because of their remarkable cone-shaped orb webs. These webs function like miniature slingshots, launching at high speed to trap unsuspecting prey.

The species was named Simonia lawbah after its type locality, Krem Lawbah cave. Scientists believe it is likely troglophilic, or cave-loving, as all known specimens were collected from inside the cave. The female spider can be distinguished from its closest relatives by unique reproductive structures, making it a distinct species.

The discovery is especially significant for Meghalaya. The state now accounts for two of the three known ray spider species recorded from India, making it the country’s most important region for this little-known spider family. The study also revisited a century-old specimen collected from Siju Cave in Garo Hills during a 1922 expedition and reassigned it to a different genus, resolving a long-standing taxonomic puzzle.

Researchers say the findings highlight how little is known about India’s cave ecosystems despite Meghalaya being globally recognised as part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The state’s vast network of limestone caves continues to yield species new to science, suggesting many more remain undiscovered.

The authors warn that subterranean habitats face increasing pressure from human activities and stress that conserving Meghalaya’s cave ecosystems is essential for protecting their unique and often highly specialised wildlife.

Commenting on the discovery, Dr. Souvik Sen, Senior Scientist and Officer-in-Charge of the Arachnida Section at ZSI, said, “Such discoveries reinforce the crucial role of systematic biodiversity surveys in revealing species that have remained unknown to science for centuries.”

ZSI Director Dr. Dhriti Banerjee added, “Every new species we discover, no matter how small or cryptic, is another step towards building a more complete picture of India’s remarkable biodiversity.

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