New Lynx Spider Species Hamataliwa mawlyngot Discovered in Meghalaya

Key facts

• Scientists from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) and the University of Calcutta discovered a new lynx spider species, Hamataliwa mawlyngot, in Meghalaya.
• The species was named after Mawlyngot village in the East Khasi Hills of Meghalaya, where it was found inhabiting Molucca brambles.
• The findings were published in the journal National Academy Science Letters and authored by Souvik Sen, Upasana Bhattacharya, and Puthoor Pattammal Sudhin.
• The discovery extends the known range of the Hamataliwa genus, which had previously been documented in China, Southeast Asia, and parts of southern India.
• The spider is an active hunter that does not rely on webs and serves as a natural biological control agent by regulating insect pest populations.