Why in news? 

A new species of spider Pseudomogrus sudhii discovered from the Thar desert of Rajasthan has been named after a Malayalee arachnologist Sudhikumar A.V., Head, Department of Zoology, Christ College, Irinjalakuda, and founder of the Centre for Animal Taxonomy and Ecology (CATE) in recognition of his contributions to the field of Indian arachnology.

Highlights:

• The jumping spider species inhabits dry grass blades of the desert. It is the first report of this genus from India. So far 35 species of spiders of this genus have been discovered worldwide.
• The spider is only 4-mm long. Dark brown coloured head of male is covered with small white hairs and has black eye region. There is a dark mid-longitudinal band traversing the pale-yellow coloured abdomen. Head of the female is yellow with black eyes. There are white spots on its light-yellow abdomen, according to the description given in the scientific journal.

Dr. Sudhikumar

• The spider is named after Dr. Sudhikumar for his contributions to the field of Indian arachnology. He has published more than 200 research articles on the Indian spider diversity in various international and national journals.
• He is the author of Keralathile Chilanthikal published by the Kerala Bhasha Institute.

• Under his leadership, researchers from CATE have so far discovered 35 new species of spiders from different geographic locations in Kerala. He is the principal investigator of various research projects funded by both the Central and the State governments. There are 15 research students currently studying about the diversity of spiders, millipedes and ants of Kerala.