Redescription, distribution and status of the Karwar Large Burrowing Spider Thrigmopoeus truculent us Pocock, 1899 (Araneae: Theraphosidae), a Western Ghats endemic ground mygalomorph

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M. Siliwal
S. Molur

Abstract

The genus Thrigmopoeus is endemic to the Western Ghats of India, and is so far represented by two species: Thrigmopoeus truculentus Pocock, 1899 and T. insignis Pocock, 1899. The distribution of T. truculentus was considered to be restricted to its type locality until a few populations were identified in other places. In this paper we provide detail morphometry and characters used in modern-day taxonomy to redescribe the female of T. truculentus, with additional notes on its distribution, range extension, burrow and habitat.

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Communications
Author Biographies

M. Siliwal

Manju Siliwal is a research associate at Wildlife Information Liaison Development Society, Coimbatore, currently working as an arachnologist. She has been working on ecology and taxonomy of mygalomorph spiders of India. She is in the process of describing new species of spiders including trapdoor spiders and tarantulas.

S. Molur

Sanjay Molur is the founder secretary of WILD and executive director of ZOO. He is currently involved in studies on rodents and bats in Coorg. He is also involved in trade and ecological studies of mygalomorph spiders in India since 2000.