Siler niser

A new species of spider has been found on the National Institute of Science Education and Research (NISER) Bhubaneswar campus. The spider, named Siler Niser, was discovered by Ayush Parag, an Integrated MSc student, and his MSc thesis supervisor Aniruddha Datta Roy from the School of Biological Sciences, NISER. They worked with Indian jumping spider expert John TD Caleb from Chennai.

Discovery of Siler Niser

Siler Niser was discovered during a monitoring project aimed at studying the spider diversity on the campus. The researchers collected several specimens of the spider and observed their morphology, DNA sequences, and behavior. They compared the specimens with other known spider species and found that Siler Niser was a new species.

Morphological and genetic characteristics of Siler Niser

Siler Niser belongs to the family Salticidae, which is known as the jumping spiders. These spiders are known for their unique behavior of jumping towards their prey. Siler Niser has a dark brown body with a white pattern on the abdomen. The spider has four pairs of eyes, which are arranged in a unique pattern. The front pair of eyes is large and directed forward, while the other three pairs are smaller and directed upward and backward.

The researchers also analyzed the DNA sequences of Siler Niser and found that it had a unique genetic makeup. The DNA analysis revealed that Siler Niser is closely related to other jumping spiders found in India, but it has distinct genetic differences that make it a new species.

Significance of the discovery

The discovery of Siler Niser highlights the importance of grasslands as habitats for different organisms. The NISER Bhubaneswar campus has a large grassland area that provides a suitable habitat for several species of spiders, including Siler Niser. This discovery emphasizes the significance of studying open habitats to understand the diversity and distribution of different organisms.

Conservation of Siler Niser

The discovery of Siler Niser also highlights the need for conservation efforts to protect the habitats of different organisms. The grassland areas on the NISER Bhubaneswar campus are under threat due to human activities such as construction and encroachment. The researchers suggest that conservation efforts should be implemented to protect the grassland areas and the species that inhabit them, including Siler Niser.