© 2016. Indian Journal of Arachnology 5 (1-2): 176-304 ISSN 2278-1587 (Online) ENLISTING THE DIVERSITY OF ORB-WEAVERS OF ASIA AS WELL AS ENDEMIC ORB-WEAVING SPECIES OF INDIA Anuradha Rajoria* and Harishant Jadhao** *Department of Zoology, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Maharashtra
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[email protected] ABSTRACT The present enlisting of the orb-weavers of Asia is done in order to understand the generic as well as species abundance of the orb-weaving families which are recorded from Asian continent till date. This enlisting also highlights the species of the orb-weaving families which are endemic to India. This is a simple, sorted compilation of the diversity of Asian Orb-weavers. Keywords: Asia, India, Araneae, endemic, orb-weavers, spider fauna. INTRODUCTION “Orb-Weavers” as we know, are the most common group of builders of spiral wheel- shaped webs often found in gardens, fields and forests. Their common name is taken from the round shape of this typical web, and the taxon was formerly also referred to as the Orbiculariae and are basically categorized under the Superfamilies Araneoidea, Cyatholipoidea, Deinopoidea, Linyphioidea, Symphytognathoidea and Theridioidea. A total of 20 families are categorised within these superfamilies, while Asian continent records 15 families viz., Anapidae Simon, 1895; Araneidae Clerck, 1757; Deinopidae C.L. Koch, 1850; Linyphiidae Blackwall, 1859; Mimetidae Simon, 1881; Mysmenidae Petrunkevitch, 1928; Nephilidae Simon, 1894; Nesticidae Simon, 1894; Pimoidae Wunderlich, 1986; Symphytognathidae Hickman, 1931; Synaphridae Wunderlich, 1986; Tetragnathidae Menge, 1866; Theridiidae Sundevall, 1833; Theridiosomatidae Simon, 1881 and Uloboridae Thorell, 1869. MATERIALS AND METHODS The present work is based on the review of the orb-weaving families which are included in Platnick’s World Spider Catalog and recently uploaded online version of World Spider Catalog (2016) and also by consulting published books, materials and available literature.