Leg autotomy in spiders from coastal wetlands of Kerala, India: natural history observations
ABSTRACT
Autotomy, or voluntary limb loss, is a widespread defence strategy among arthropods, yet its ecological costs and benefits in spiders remain poorly documented. Here, we report natural history observations of leg autotomy in 32 species across eight families from four coastal wetlands in Kerala, India. Patterns of autotomy varied widely among species. Many spiders, including members of the orb-weaving family Araneidae, shed legs at the coxa–trochanter joint, a mechanism that minimises haemolymph loss. Agile hunters such as members of the families Salticidae and Oxyopidae frequently autotomised multiple legs, with potentially severe consequences for locomotion. Notably, repeated cases in the jumping spider Carrhotus viduus (CL Koch) highlight the trade-offs faced by active hunters that depend heavily on agility. These findings highlight the taxonomic breadth, ecological variation and functional consequences of autotomy in spiders, underscoring its adaptive value while drawing attention to its hidden costs. We suggest that autotomy merits systematic study as an ecologically significant yet overlooked survival strategy in arachnids. This study presents the first broad field-based documentation of autotomy in spiders from Kerala, India, thereby extending current knowledge of its ecological relevance in tropical habitats.
Special thanks to Mathew M. Joseph (co-author) for sending me this full manuscript.
Abraham, A., & Joseph, M. M. (2026). Leg autotomy in spiders from coastal wetlands of Kerala, India: natural history observations. Journal of Natural History, 60(9–12), 541–546. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222933.2026.2619579