Two Mumbai students discover new species of trapdoor spider
Independent student researchers and Mumbai residents Zeeshan Mirza and Rajesh Sanap have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider from Mumbai. The species is called Idiops rubrolimbatus or the red-legged spider owing to the male spider’s orange and red coloured legs. Both the male and female species were discovered during the research.
Independent student researchers and Mumbai residents Zeeshan Mirza and Rajesh Sanap have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider from Mumbai. The species is called Idiops rubrolimbatus or the red-legged spider owing to the male spider’s orange and red coloured legs. Both the male and female species were discovered during the research.
The news species belongs to the genus idiops and was found by the duo during their research on the biodiversity of the Aarey Milk Colony in Goregaon last year.
The Journal of Arachnology, an authority on arachnids, reviewed and ratified their discovery over a year and published their work in their latest issue in April. Trapdoor spiders belong to the Mygalomorphae family of spiders and tarantulas that are characterised by their large size.
“These spiders are a primitive species which cannot inhabit concrete structures. They live in burrows that have a cork lid like opening and are extremely difficult to spot. The cool burrows maintain their body moisture and body temperature. We also found these trapdoor spiders at the Sanjay Gandhi National Park,” said Mirza, a final year Bachelor in Zoology student from Bhavan’s College, Andheri.
The discovery of the idiops rubrolimbatus is the duo’s tenth discovery in the past four years. Their last discovery, a scorpion named Lychas Aareyensis was named after the Aarey Milk Colony after it was discovered there in 2010.