Distributional record of Annandaliella travancorica Hirst 1909, (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from Western Ghats of Kerala, India

Abstract

Only three species of Annandaliella are known from the Western Ghats of Kerala, A. travnacorica Hirst 1909, A. ernakulamensis Jose and Sebastian 2018, A. pectinifera Gravely 1935. A. travnacoricais distinguished by its primary apophysis on first leg, which has a horn-like projection with a pointed black spine at the tibial end. The presence of a tibial apophysis with a thick black spine distinguishes it from A. ernakulamensis  and  A. pectinifera. A. travancorica has previously been reported in Kerala’s Travancore, Kozikode, and Thrissur. This is the first report from Peechi Wildlife Sanctuary.