Endangered Species By Kartikeya Thiyam Sundaram Shaurish Das Gupta Grade VII - B G.D.Goenka World School, Gurgaon, India

RAMESHWARAM ORNAMENTAL PARACHUTE SPIDER GENUS: Poecilotheria SCIENTIFIC NAME: Poecilotheria Hanumavilasumica DISCOVERED BY: Andrew Smith in 2004 WHERE: In a grove of the Hanumavilasum temple on the Rameshwaram Islands, Tamil Nadu.

RAMESHWARAM ORNAMENTAL PARACHUTE SPIDER (Contd.) In 2008, it was put on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) RED List (Critically Endangered) Its numbers are less than 500 today.

FOUND IN RAMESHWARAM ISLANDS, TAMIL NADU – SOUTH INDIA

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS The spider has a vivid color pattern, fast movement and potent venom. It has light and dark brown stripes across its body and legs. It can be distinguished from others in this genus by a yellow colouration on the underside of the front legs.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS (Contd.) Its colouring provide excellent camouflage against predators. Males grow up to 4.3 cm in length. Females are much larger growing to a length of 6.7 cm.

Tree dwelling species endemic to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, South India. HABITAT Habitat restricted to a few tamarind, casuarina and mixed dry deciduous trees and palm plantations around an area of 100 sq. kms. 8 sub-populations in 13 severely fragmented locations with 4-78 individuals per area. Density of population more in tamarind plantations. Prefers well- protected, small dark cavities such as hollows, trunks and under bark of trees. TAMARIND TREE PALM AND CASUARINA PLANTATION

These spiders have short life spans. Mortality amongst spider lings is exceptionally high due to cannibalism and natural predation. Maturation ranges from months for males and months for females. LIFESPAN

A LIFESPAN (Contd) Males survive for only one breeding season and die soon after re- production. The female spider is not only bigger than the male but also has a longer lifespan. Average post-adult life for the female spider is months.

REASONS FOR BEING ENDANGERED The spiders number less than 500. CR status due to restricted distribution, and continuing decline in area, quality, population and mature individuals. Its woodland habitat is being destroyed when plantations are converted into tourist destinations.

REASONS FOR BEING ENDANGERED (Contd.) Deforestation for developmental activities is destroying its woodland habitat. In 2006, 70 adult spiders were killed when a plantation was razed to build a resort. Number of trees are reducing where the spiders can mature. A newly built resort in Rameshwaram

WHY ARE SPIDERS IMPORTANT TO US? Spiders play an important role as biological control systems in agriculture. Spiders help the farmers through pest insect predation. They feed on harmful insects which eat up plant/trees and cause damage to the environment. In the UK, the mass of insects eaten by spiders outweigh the country’s human population. Since the number of the Rameshwaram Ornamental Parachute spider is less than 500 today, it is a worrying fact.

SAVING THE RAMESHWARAM ORNAMENTAL PARACHUTE SPIDER The spiders numbers need to be increased to save it from extinction. This can be done by: - Stopping deforestation in its habitat areas. - Strictly controlling the number of new resorts/tourist destinations in its habitat like in the tiger sanctuaries. - Planting more tamarind, casuarina and palm trees where the spiders can mature. - Dedicating a protected area for these spiders.

Endangered Species By Kartikeya Thiyam Sundaram Shaurish Das Gupta Grade VII - B G.D.Goenka World School, Gurgaon, India