Article Citation:

Animesh Dey, Susmita Debnath, Biplab Debbarma and PS Chaudhuri.

A preliminary study on spider diversity from a house hold garden (artificial mixed
plantation) in West Tripura, India.
Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017
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A preliminary study on spider diversity from a house hold garden
(artificial mixed plantation) in West Tripura, India
Keywords:
Spider diversity, artificial mixed plantation, salticidae, insect predator
ABSTRACT:

Insects are the largest taxonomic group in the animal kingdom and their
significant role in ecology needs no description. Spiders are exclusively predatory,
hence can play a very important role in regulation of insect population in any
ecosystem. Comprehensive study of spider fauna of Tripura has not been carried out
yet. In our present study, we are attempting to provide relevant information regarding
spiders. This information may serve as the baseline documentation for future studies
in Tripura. A survey was carried out during July 2011 to January 2012 in a house
garden (artificial mixed plantation) in Khayerpur of west Tripura district. A total of 47
spider species belonging to 36 genera of 14 families were collected. Among all the
families, Salticidae dominated the studied assemblage and represents approximately
38% of the total species collected.
1009-1017 | JRB | 2013 | Vol 3 | No 5

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www.jresearchbiology.com
Journal of Research in Biology
An International
Scientific Research Journal
Authors:
Animesh Dey
1*
,
Susmita Debnath
1
, Biplab
Debbarma
1
, PS Chaudhuri
2
.


Institution:
1. Department of Zoology,
Maharaja Bir Bikram
College, Agartala - 799004,
West Tripura

2. Department of Zoology,
Tripura University,
Suryamaninagar 799022,
West Tripura


Corresponding author:
Animesh Dey
















Email Id:




Web Address:
http://jresearchbiology.com/
documents/RA0361.pdf.
Dates:
Received: 24 June 2013 Accepted: 18 July 2013 Published: 16 Aug 2013
Journal of Research in Biology
An International Scientific Research Journal
Original Research


INTRODUCTION
The arachnids are the second largest contributor
(8.3%) of total arthropod diversity after insects. Spiders
belong to the order Araneae of class Arachnida and are
one of the diverse and functionally important predators.
Hence, spiders can play a very important role in
regulating the terrestrial arthropod populations
(Coddington and Levi, 1991). Considering, the
potentiality of spiders as bio-control agents of insect
pests and bio-indicator as well, exploration of spider
diversity need to be done with immediate effect. Since
the distribution and occurrence of spiders are greatly
related to habitat structure and vegetation parameters
(Buddle et al., 2000; de Souza and Martins, 2004;
Greenstone, 1984; Uetz, 1991; Wise, 1993), study of
spiders can be very much helpful for understanding
biodiversity patterns (Platnick, 1999). Despite of their
enormous importance in the natural ecosystem, spiders
are largely ignored in conservational studies (Chetia and
Kalita, 2012).
Now-a-days, distribution and diversity of spiders
has been studied in different parts of the world. A well
illustrated account of the diversity, beauty and intricacies
of spiders has been documented by Taylor (1999).
Although few reports on spiders from southern part of
the country are available up to some extent (Charpentier,
1996; Jose and Sebastian, 2001; Jose et al., 2006; Smith,
2004; Sugumaran et al., 2005; Vijayalakshmi and
Ahimaz, 1993), there are scanty records on diversity and
distribution of spiders in India including its north east
part as compared to other regions of the world. In NE
India, diversity of spiders approximately unexplored and
have received least attention in conservation strategies
(Singh et al., 2012). A very few documentations
(Tikader, 1970; Biswas, 2000a, 2000b, 2003, 2004,
2006, 2007) are available on spiders of north east India.
As far as the spider diversity of Tripura is concerned, it
is still not completely explored or understood. The main
aim of this study was to explore the spider species
richness in a house hold garden. Considering the duration
and plot size, this study is far from the complete
exploration of spider fauna of the state. However, it
forms the basis for further investigations on this faunal
group and reveals the importance, as well as potentiality
Dey et al., 2013
1010 Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017
Figure 1. Showing the study site (Khayerpur) near Agartala city
of house hold gardens as natural habitat of spider fauna.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study was conducted during July 2011 to
January 2012 in a house hold garden having an area of
80 m
2
in Khayerpur (23

50' 37.9'' N, 91

20' 39.9'' E;
elevation 24 m) near to the Agartala city of west Tripura
district (Fig. 1). Since, polyculture house hold gardens
with such type of size are very rare in the core city of
Agartala now a days, the above site is selected for this
preliminary survey of spider fauna near to the city.
Aerial and ground hand collection methods, along with
vegetation beating was mainly used for the collection of
spider specimens. Spiders were searched visually also
under fallen tree branches, leaf litters etc. Collected
specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol for further
identification. Keys and catalogs provided by Biswas and
Biswas (1992, 2003, 2004), Sebastian and Peter (2009)
and Tikader (1987) were followed for the identification
of spider specimen.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
A total of 47 spider species were collected from
the studied house hold garden. Among the collected
species of spiders, eighteen species belong to the family
Salticidae, seven species to the family Araneidae, three
species each to the family Tetragnathidae, Lycosidae and
Thomisidae, two species each to the family Nephilidae,
Oxyopidae, Sparassidae, and Theridiidae, one species
each to the families Scytodidae, Hersiliidae, Uloboridae,
Corinnidae and Miturgidae (Table 1). India represents
438 genera (Keswani et al., 2012) from which 36 genera
were recorded during the study. Highest generic diversity
was found in Salicidae (12), Araneidae (6),
Tetragnathidae (3), Lycosidae (3) and Thomisidae (2)
(Fig. 2). Among the collected spiders, four (Cyrtophora
unicolor, Camaricus maugi, Nephila pilipes, Heteropoda
cervina) and one (Menemerus bivittatus) species of
spiders were also reported from Australia and USA
respectively (Framenau, 2013; Richman et al., 2005).
Rest are endemic to south-east Asia (Siliwal et al., 2005)
and distribution of four species (Thiania bhamoensis,
Argiope versicolor, Cyrtophora unicolor, Amyciaea
lineatipes) are reported in India for the first time
(Keshwani et al., 2012).
A total of 1686 spider species accounts with
India (Keswani et al., 2012) and 47 species are recorded
during the study from a small house hold garden.
Records on spider diversity from the other parts of the
country viz. Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sikkim,
Calcutta and Assam (Chetia and Kalita, 2012; Singh
et al., 2012; Tikader and Biswas, 1981; Tikader, 1970,
1977, 1980) are comparable with the observations of the
present study. Highest species diversity was shown by
Salticidae, followed by Araneidae, Tetragnathidae,
Lycosidae, Thomisidae etc. (Fig. 3). Plexippus paykulli
was found to be most abundant in the studied garden
followed by Phintella vittata, Myrmarachne sp1,
Neoscona sp, Araneus mitificus, Pardosa sp, Camaricus
formosus etc. Out of total spider species recorded, about
48 % (22 species) were found to be foliage runner, 28 %
(13 species) were orb web builder, 15 % (7 species) were
ground runner, 6 % (3 species) were ambusher and 4 %
(2 species) were scattered line weber (Fig. 4).
Dey et al., 2013
Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017 1011
Figure 2. Showing the total number of genera
represented by different spider families



Dey et al., 2013
1012 Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017
Table 1: List of spider species collected from the household garden during study
Family Species Distribution
Salticidae
(Foliage runner)
1) Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1826) IND, CHN, LKA
2) Plexippus petersi (Karsch, 1878) IND, CHN, SGP
3) Phintella vittata (C. L. Koch, 1846) IND, CHN, MYS
4) Asemonea sp. IND, LKA, THA
5) Phintella versicolor (C. L. Koch, 1846) IND, CHN, MYS
6) Portia labiata (Thorell, 1887) IND, LKA, MYS
7) Epeus sp.1 IND,CHN,MYS,IDN
8) Epeus sp.2 IND,CHN,MYS,IDN
9) Menemerus bivittatus (Dufour, 1831) IND, USA
10) Thiania bhamoensis (Thorell, 1887) SGP, IDN, MYS
11) Telamonia dimidiata (Simon, 1899) IND, IDN, BTN
12) Brettus sp. IND, CHN, LKA
13) Siler sp. IND, LKA
14) Rhene danieli (Tikader, 1973) IND
15) Myrmarachne orientales (Tikader , 1973) IND, PAK
16) Myrmarachne plataleoides (Cambridge, 1869) IND, LKA, CHN
17) Myrmarachne sp.1 IND, LKA, CHN, PAK
18) Myrmarachne sp.2 IND, LKA, CHN, PAK
Araneidae
(Orb web builder)
19) Neoscona sp. IND, PAK, CHN
20) Argiope versicolor (Doleschall, 1859) SGP, IDN, VNM
21) Cyclosa sp. IND, LKA, MYS
22) Cyclosa bifida (Doleschall, 1859) IND, LKA, MYS
23) Araneus mitificus (Simon, 1886) IND, PAK, BGD
24) Cyrtophora unicolor (Doleschall, 1857) LKA, PHL, AUS
25) Gasteracantha hasselti (C. L. Koch, 1837) IND, CHN
Tetragnathidae
(Orb web builder)
26) Leucauge decorata (Blackwall, 1864) IND, LKA, SGP
27) Opadometa fastigiata (Simon, 1877) IND, PHL
28) Tylorida sp. IND, CHN, AUS
Lycosidae
(Ground runner)
29) Lycosa mackenziei (Gravely, 1924) IND, PAK, BGD
30) Pardosa sp. SGP, THA, CHN
31) Hippasa greenalliae (Blackwall, 1867) IND, LKA, CHN
Thomisidae
(Ambusher)
32) Camaricus formosus (Thorell, 1887) IND, CHN, PHL
33) Camaricus maugi (Walckenaer, 1837) IND, LKA, AUS
34) Amyciaea lineatipes (Cambridge, 1901) SGP, IDN
35) Nephila kuhlii (Doleschall 1859) IND, LKA, SGP Nephilidae
(Orb web builder)
36) Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793) IND, CHN, AUS
According to earlier reports, the spider fauna of
Tripura is represented by 6 families, 15 genera and 27
species (Biswas and Majumder, 2000). Present study
represents 14 families, 36 genera and 47 species (plate 1
and 2), collected from a small house hold garden during
a very small survey, among which 45 species were
reported for the first time from the state. Since, the
present study is not focused on specific spider families
like the previous authors, who studied only six families
(Araneidae, Oxyopidae, Tetragnathidae, Salticidae,
Lycosidae and Heteropodidae) and the survey is carried
out in a natural habitat of spiders, greater species
richness is observed. Hence this study reveals the
potentiality of Tripura state as the reservoir of large
Dey et al., 2013
Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017 1013
Figure 4. Graph showing the number of species
represented by different types of spiders
Hersiliidae
Oxyopidae
(Foliage runner)
37) Oxyopes birmanicus (Thorell 1887) IND, LKA, MYS
38) Oxyopes javanus (Thorell 1887) IND, CHN, PHL
Sparassidae
(Ground runner)
39) Heteropoda venatoria (Latreille, 1802) IND, JPN
40) Heteropoda cervina (C. L. Koch, 1875) IND, AUS
Theridiidae
(Scattered line weber)
41) Chrysso sp. IND, CHN, JPN
42) Ariamnes sp. IND, AUS
Scytodidae
(Ground runner)
43) Scytodes pallida (Doleschall 1859) IND, CHN, PHL
Hersiliidae
(Foliage runner)
44) Hersilia sp. IND, LKA, MMR
Uloboridae
(Orb web builder)
45) Zosis sp. IND, TWN
Corinnidae
(Ground runner)
46) Castianeira sp. IND, BGD, BTN
Miturgidae
(Foliage runner)
47) Cheiracanthium danieli Tikader, 1975 IND
Abbreviations: IND India, CHN - China, LKA Sri Lanka, SGP Singapore, MYS Malaysia, THA
Thailand, IDN Indonesia, USA United States, BTN Bhutan, PAK Pakistan, VNM Viet Nam, BGD
Bangladesh, PHL Philippines, AUS Australia, JPN Japan, MMR Myanmar, TWN Taiwan
Figure 3. Percentage of total species diversity
shared by shared by different spider families
spider diversity. Inter-specific variation in coloration
among different spiders might be linked with different
environmental effects and behavioral patterns observed
on them (Craig and Ebert, 1994; Hoese et al., 2006;
Huber, 2002; Oxford and Gillespie, 1998).

CONCLUSION
Ecological as well as taxonomic information on
Indian spiders are lacking up to a great extent and studies
of spiders on these regards are completely untouched in
Tripura, NE India. Checklist or records of these spiders
are not yet prepared. However, spiders can be considered
as the most efficient one, among the few bio-indicator
species in ecological studies (Kapoor, 2008; Noss, 1990).
Relationship between spider distribution with habitat
patterns and its various patterns of responses to the
different disturbances create complexities in using them
as indicator species (Chetia and Kalita, 2012). This study
1014 Journal of Research in Biology (2013) 3(5): 1009-1017
Dey et al., 2013
Plate 1. (1) Plexippus paykulli (2) Plexippus petersi (3) Phintella vittata (4) Asemonea sp. (5) Phintella versicolor
(6) Portia labiata (7) Epeus sp.1 (8) Epeus sp.2 (9) Menemerus bivittatus (10) Thiania bhamoensis (11)
Telamonia dimidiata (12) Brettus sp. (13) Siler sp. (14) Rhene danieli (15) Myrmarachne orientales (16)
Myrmarachne plataleoides (17) Myrmarachne sp.1 (18) Myrmarachne sp.2 (19) Neoscona sp. (20) Argiope
versicolor (21) Cyclosa sp. (22) Cyclosa bifida (23) Araneus mitificus (24) Cyrtophora unicolor
shows information related to the species distribution in a
particular habitat and the importance of house hold
gardens in maintaining and conserving spider diversity.
The study also reveals the potentiality of the state as the
reservoir of diversified spider fauna. Detailed studies on
the spider fauna of the state and inclusion of spiders in
conservational strategies are recommended.

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