Endangered Species

By

Kartikeya Thiyam SundaramShaurish 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 12-15 months for males and 14-18 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 60-85 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 SundaramShaurish Das Gupta

Grade VII - B

G.D.Goenka World School , Gurgaon , India