Abstract :
An updated checklist of spider diversity in Goa is presented herewith. A total of 173
species of spiders described under 128 genera belonging to 23 families are enlisted that have been
recorded/described/located from all subdistricts of Goa. A total of 32 species recorded from Goa were
identified only upto generic level. Most speciose family of spider recorded in Goa is Araneidae (37
species) followed by Salticidae (35 species), Thomisidae (20 species), Theriidae (14 species),
Tetragnathidae (13 species) and other families with less than 10 species. The maximum number of
spider species were recorded from Quepem subdistrict of South Goa (123 species), followed by
Tiswadi (85 species), Ponda (36 species), Dharbandora (21 species), Salcete and Sanguem (19 species
each), Canacona (17 species), Sattari (15 species), Bardez (12 species), Mormugao (7 species),
Bicholim (5 species), and Pernem (3 species). Most of the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries,
forest areas, agricultural fields, human dwellings etc. within the state still await intensive and
extensive surveys to record the spider fauna.
Keyword :
Checklist, Faunal distribution, Goa, India, Spiders.