Functional diversity of some spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in forest landscapes of Bethuadahari, West Bengal, with a new record from India
Abstract
The spiders located on both sides of the transects in the forest areas of Bethuadahari were recorded without collection of any specimens. Systematic analysis of the spiderhabitus photographs revealed an assemblage of 32 spider species, belonging to 23genera and 10 families. Documentation of Argiope cameloides Zhu & Song, 1994 underfamily Araneidae is being reported for the first time from India extending itsgeographical distribution range from China. Based on the number of species,Araneidae was most dominant with eleven species under six genera followed bySalticidae with eight species under six genera. Spiders were found to inhabit tree orshrub foliage, tree bark and leaf litter within 9ft above the ground. Guild Structureanalysis revealed a diverse assemblage of spider guilds with seven distinct foragingstrategies. Orb-web weavers were the most dominant guild represented by 44% ofspecies, followed by stalkers (25%), Scattered line weavers (13%), Ambush hunters(9%), Foliage runners (3%) and Space web weavers (3%) and ground runners (3%).
Sen S, Mondal MR, Akuli AK, Mandal S. Functional diversity ofsome spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) in forest landscapes ofBethuadahari, West Bengal, with a new record from India. Species2025; 26: e32s3157
