Scientists surveying ants have accidentally stumbled upon a new species of 'happy face' spider in the Himalayas, named Theridion himalayana. This high-altitude spider, sporting a bright red smile-like print on its back, is one of the most recognisable arachnids in the world.
Accidental Discovery
Until now, spiders with such smiley-shaped patterns were thought to be unique to the Hawaiian Islands. However, researchers discovered the new spider in a mountainous region of India's northern state of Uttarakhand. The discovery was made while scientists were conducting a survey on ants. One of the authors, Devi Priyadarshini, a scientist at the Regional Museum of Natural History, said: 'My co-author kept sending me spiders from high altitude regions for identification. One fine day, when he shared this image from the underside of a Daphniphyllum leaf, I froze in shock because I had seen the Hawaiian spider during my master's programme, and I knew instantly we had a jackpot.'
Naming and Significance
The species name 'Himalayana' was chosen to pay respects to the mighty Himalayan mountain ranges. Ashirwad Tripathy, a PhD candidate from the regional Forest Research Institute, said: 'We both wanted to pay our respects to the mighty Himalaya mountain ranges, which have been standing tall not just guarding our country but also holding a plethora of biodiversity within them.'
Genetic Analysis
Scientists identified 32 different colour variations, or 'morphs', of the new species from three locations in Uttarakhand: Makku, Tala, and Mandal. DNA analysis revealed a genetic variation of approximately 8.5 per cent from the Hawaiian happy-face spider, confirming that the species belongs to a separate lineage that evolved independently in Asia.
Mystery of the Smile Pattern
While spiders of this species have an unmissable smiling pattern on their back, its exact purpose remains a mystery. 'These patterns definitely help them survive better in the wild, but why do they resort to such patterns on their back, and what functional role in their life cycle does it exactly serve is yet to be deciphered,' said Dr Priyadarshini. 'This is definitely indicative of a deeper genetic mystery.'
Connection to Ginger Plants
The Uttarakhand spiders were frequently found on ginger plants, mirroring the behaviour of their Hawaiian cousins. However, ginger is not native to Hawaii and is considered an invasive species there. This leaves scientists intrigued about the connection. 'How did the spiders choose an invasive species and ginger exactly?' Dr Priyadarshini wondered. 'It will be our further scope of work to establish any missing links, if at all.'
