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Spider Diversity in the Vicinity of “Amakoni Reservior”, Sarangarh-

Bilaigarh District, Chhattisgarh, India

Anita Pandey1* ,Dr. V. M. Agrawal 2

Assistant Professor Kirodimal Govt. Arts and Science College, Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, India.Govt.

Navin College, Barpali, Korba, Chhattisgarh, India.

*Corresponding Author

DOI: https://doi.org/10.51583/IJLTEMAS.2026.15020000133

Received: 26 February 2026; Accepted: 03 March 2026; Published: 25 March 2026

ABSTRACT

Spiders are a globally distributed group, with established populations in a wide range of habitats. The present

study aimed to investigate spider faunal diversity within "Amakoni Reservoir," Sarangarh- Bilaigarh District,

Chhattisgarh, India. This study was conducted from December 2024 to November 2025 Specimens were

collected from the environs of Amakoni Reservoir (Putka Reservoir) using a variety of collection methods and

subsequently identified using a taxonomic key for Indian spiders. This study was conducted to evaluate spider

species richness and develop a detailed species checklist for the spider fauna of the Amakoni Reservoir area A

total of 23 species, representing 8 families, were recorded from study area. The Araneidae family was the most

prevalent, comprising six species. Shannon’s Index (H)=-0.83031 and Simpson’s Index (D)= 0.8425. This

research yields significant and contemporary data regarding the species diversity within the "Amakoni

Reservoir," Sarangarh- Bilaigarh District, Chhattisgarh and may serve as a useful resource for future research on

spider fauna.

Key words- Spider, diversity, Araneidae Amakoni Reservoir, Sarangarh- Bilaigarh District.

Objectives- Objectives: This study was undertaken with the following primary objectives:

1. To assess the overall status of spider populations in the vicinity of the Amakoni reservoir.

2. To compile a comprehensive checklist of spider species identified at Amakoni reservoir.

INTRODUCTION

Spiders are fascinating creatures, they represent the most diverse and abundant group of invertebrate predators

within terrestrial ecosystems (Wise, 1993). The fossil record indicates their emergence in the Devonian period

approximately 380 million years ago (Shear et al., 1989). The current taxonomic classification recognizes 53'325

accepted species, distributed across 4391 genera within 135 families worldwide. (WSC2025 version-25) India

is home to 1,442 spider species, distributed across 59 families and 361 genera, constituting 3.6% of the world's

spider diversity, The family Salticidae exhibits the highest number of species (181), followed by Thomisidae

(154) in India. (Silwal et al.2005) Currently Singh et al. (2022) recorded 336 spider species, belonging to 136

genera and 30 families, based on surveys conducted in 36 of the 52 districts of Madhya Pradesh. Furthermore,

Singh’s book details 2,110 species within 527 genera and 55 families found in India. (Singh et al 2023). In

Chhattisgarh, 222 spider species from 96 genera of 23 families have been recorded by Choudhary et al. (2023).

Spiders are classified within the Phylum Arthropoda, Class Arachnida, order Araneae, and are exclusively

predatory organisms. Their body structure is segmented into two primary divisions: the cephalothorax and the

abdomen. Characteristically, spiders possess eight legs, which are attached to the cephalothorax. The two major

groups of spiders are Mygalomorphs, referred to as ancient spiders, and Araneomorphs, known as present day

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spiders. Spiders, characterized by their eight eyes, silk secretion, and web-spinning capabilities facilitated by

spinnerets, are readily differentiated from insects.

As a dominant predator of insect pests, spiders fulfill a crucial ecological role. They contribute to the dynamic

equilibrium of micro-level food webs and represent an essential component of Integrated crop Pest Management

strategies. Spiders serve as efficient natural regulators of numerous insect-mediated diseases, including malaria

and dengue. Spiders are significant biological pest regulators and serve as a food source for birds, reptiles, and

mammals, thus maintaining the food web (Riechert & Lockley, 1984). They exhibit diverse distributions across

habitats, contingent upon site suitability, and in feeding behaviors, occupying nearly all types of ecosystems.

Spiders are a significant predatory group in terrestrial ecosystems, especially within agricultural and forest

environments (Foelix, 2011); and play a crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. They are ecologically

important for regulating insect populations (Nyffeler & Birkhofer, 2017).

Amakoni Reservoir, situated in the Amakoni village in Sarangarh–Bilaigarh district of Chhattisgarh, India.

Chhattisgarh exhibits substantial forest coverage, encompassing approximately 44.21% of its total area. The

dominant vegetation types are classified as Tropical Moist Deciduous and Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests

(Champion & Seth, 1968). The reservoir, situated within a dry deciduous forest ecosystem, provides a distinctive

interface between terrestrial and aquatic environments. The shining water body acts as a lifeline for Amakoni

villagers. During the monsoon, the reservoir brims with fresh water, reflecting the dense canopy of Sal, Bhirra,

Karra, Bija, Harra, Amla, Khair, Neem, Baheda, and Karanj, teak, and other deciduous trees that line its banks.

This ecologically significant reservoir boasts considerable natural beauty and a calming atmosphere, with its

banks supporting a wide variety of plant and animal life with spiders.

METHODOLOGY

Study Area- The current study was conducted “Amakoni Reservoir” also called "Putka Reservoir”, situated in

the Amakoni village in Sarangarh–Bilaigarh district of Chhattisgarh, India, is a tranquil waterbody encompassed

by tropical dry deciduous forests. The geographical coordinates of this area are 21° 35' 15.71'' N, 83° 4' 25.37''

W, and the elevation is 217 m (712 ft).

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Study Area- Amakoni Reservoir

Climate Of Study Area- The climate of a region plays a crucial role in shaping the biodiversity of its spider

population, impacting both the variety of species present and their numbers throughout the different seasons.

The town of Sarangarh is located at an altitude of 231.33 meters, which is equivalent to 758.96 feet, above the

average sea level. In terms of rainfall, Sarangarh experiences an average annual precipitation of approximately

46.69 millimetres, which translates to about 1.84 inches. This rainfall is distributed across the year, occurring on

roughly 34.92 days annually, which means that rainfall is experienced around 9.57% of the time. The overall

climate in this district is characterized by a relatively high average annual temperature, reaching about 30.28

degrees Celsius, or 86.5 degrees Fahrenheit. These climatic factors collectively influence the spider communities

found in the Sarangarh area, affecting their distribution, behavior, and overall ecological balance. The interplay

of temperature, rainfall, and altitude creates a specific environmental niche that supports certain spider species

and influences their seasonal cycles of activity and reproduction.

Sampling Method- This study was conducted across all three sessions (summer, rainy, and winter) from

December 2024 to November 2025. The following techniques were employed for specimen collection:

1. Ground-hand Collection: This method was utilized to collect spiders observed on the ground surface.

2. Aerial Hand Collection: This method was employed to collect web-building and free-living spiders from

the foliage, herbaceous plants, stems of living or dead shrubs, and tree bark.

3. Active visual surveys - Active visual surveys were conducted within the habitat to locate spiders. Specimens

were collected from ground-level and subterranean locations, as well as above-ground microhabitats,

including folded leaves, plant branches, bark, rock surfaces, and grassland, in a collection vial.

4. Litter sampling -Litter sampling involves to the gathering arachnids specifically from the litter layer of an

environment.

Photography And Identification

All spiders observed were photographed using a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera and a Vivo mobile

application. Following photographic documentation, collected spiders were released back into their natural

habitats. Deceased specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol. Data regarding collected specimens, including

date and location, were recorded, and morphological features were clearly observed and documented.

Spider specimens were identified using established taxonomic keys and morphological characteristics, following

the guidelines in the published literature (Pocock, 1900; Tikader, 1975, 1987; Tikader & Malhotra, 1980; Barrion

& Litsinger, 1995; Majumder, 2004; Gajbe, 2008; Platnick, 2013; Peter & Sebastian, 2009).

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Calculation-

Table for calculations Biodiversity of following samples from the area: Amakoni reservoir

family

Number of

individuals (n)

n/N

=n/N

log



n1

n(n󰇜

Araneidae

30/137

0.219

0.65956

0.14444

870

Hersiliidae

14/137

0.1022

0.99055

0.10123

182

Lycosidae

8/137

0.0584

1.23359

0.07204

Oxyopidae

25/137

0.1825

0.73874

0.13482

600

Pholcidae

5/137

0.0365

1.43771

0.05248

Salticidae

28/137

0.2044

0.68952

0.14094

756

Sparassidae

6/137

0.0438

1.35853

0.0595

Tetragnathidae

21/137

0.1533

0.81446

0.12486

420

S (number of species) = n  2934

N (Total number of individuals) = 137,

Shannon’s Index (H) = 



 log =

Simpson’s Index (D)= 1󰇛󰇜

󰇛󰇜 = 1

 = 

 = 0.8425

Plate-1- a Heteropoda venatoria, b - Telamonia dimidiate, c Leucauge decorata,- d- Phintella viata

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Percentage of Spider family in the “Amakoni reservoir”.

Table 1. Spider checklist of Putka Reservoir, (Amakoni Reservoir,) in Sarangarh–Bilaigarh district of

Chhattisgarh. -

S.N.

Family/ Genus

Species

Common name

Araneidae Clerck, 1757

Argiope Savigny, 1825

Argiope aemula (Female)

(Walckenaer, 1842)

Orb- weaver spider

Argiope anasuja Thorell, 1887

Orb- weaver spider

Argiope bruennichi (Scopoli, 1772)

Orb- weaver spider

Argiope pulchella Thorell,

1881

Orb- weaver spider

Argiope trifasciata (Forskål, 1775)

Orb- weaver spider

Cyrtophora Simon, 1864

Cyrtophora cicatrosa

Garden tent-web spider

Nephila Leach, 1815

Nephila pilipes (Fabricius, 1793

golden orb-weaver.

Hersiliidae Thorell, 1869

Hersilia Savigny,

1825

Hersilia savignyi Lucas, 1836

Hersilia spider.

Lycosidae Sundevall, 1833

Arctosa C.L. Koch,

184

Trochosa sp.

Indian wolf

Pardosa C.L. Koch,

1847

Pardosa jabalpurensis Gajbe & Gajbe, 1999

Pardosa wolf spider.

Oxyopidae Thorell, 1869

Oxyopes Latreille,

1804

Oxyopes sp.

Peucetia Thorell, 1869

Peucetia viridana (Stoliczka, 1869)

green lynx spider.

Pholcidae C.L. Koch, 1850

Holocnemus Simon, 1873

Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763)

marbled cellar spider

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Pholcus Walckenaer,1805

Pholcus phalangioides(Fuesslin, 1775)

long-bodied cellar

spider,

Salticidae Blackwall, 1841

Carrhotus Thorell, 1891

Carrhotus viduus (C.L. Koch, 1846)

Carrhotus jumping

spider

Chrysilla Thorell, 1887

Chrysilla volupe (Karsch, 1879)

Jumping spider

Menemerus Simon, 1868

Menemerus bivittatus

(Dufour, 1831

jumping spiders

Phintella Strand, 1906

Phintella vittata (C.L. Koch, 1846)

Phintella jumping

spiders

Plexippus C.L. Koch, 1846

Plexippus paykulli (Audouin, 1825)

Pantropical jumping

spider

Telamonia Thorell,

188

Telamonia dimidiate (Simon, 1899)

Jumping spider

Sparassidae Bertkau, 1872

Heteropoda Latreille, 1804

Heteropoda venatoria (Linnaeus, 1767

Brown huntsman

Olios Walckenaer,1837

Olios lamarcki(Latreille, 1806)

Lamark’s huntsman

spider

Tetragnathidae Menge, 1866

Leucauge White, 1841

Leucauge decorata(Walckenaer, 1842)

long-jawed orb weaver

RESULT AND DISCUSSION

The Amakoni reservoir supports a diverse spider population. A survey of the reservoir identified 23 spider

species, representing 8 families and 19 genera. The Araneidae family was the most abundant. The study

documented 7 species from the Araneidae, 6 from the Salticidae, and 2 each from the Lycosidae, Oxyopidae,

Pholcidae, and Sparassidae. Single species were recorded from Hersiliidae and Tetragnathidae, (Table-1) and

species richness was 0.000266 per square feet.

Leucauge decorata generally found in grassland and shrub Compared to other regions of India, comprehensive

data regarding the diversity and distribution of spiders in Chhattisgarh is limited. Pandey & Agrawal (2025)

reported a total of 32 species, representing 28 genera and 12 families, during a survey of Madosilli Waterfall,

Chhattisgarh.

The Araneidae family exhibited the highest diversity, comprising 8 species. Previous research includes Ekka,

and Kujur (2015), who documented 118 species representing 52 genera under 17 families, in Ram Jharna,

Raigarh district Chhattisgarh. A 2014 study by Khandelwal P. investigated the spider population of Saranpuri

Lake and its surrounding garden and forest areas. The survey documented 50 spiders, encompassing 7 families

and 16 species. The family Araneidae was found to be the most dominant, represented by 5 species. Parmar,

B.M; (2020) documented 142 spider species, encompassing 86 genera and 25 families, in the area surrounding

the Dharoi Reservoir, North Gujarat.

The families Araneidae and Salticidae were the most abundant, followed by Thomisidae. Subsequently, a

comprehensive survey of spider fauna across several lakes in Ved Nagar, Gujarat (Parmar; 2025), revealed a total

of 118 species. The Araneidae family was the most dominant, represented by 26 species, followed by Salticidae

with 25 species.

Oxyopidae and Thomisidae were also significantly represented. Cardoso et al. (2015) identified 37 species from

11 families in their sampling of spider diversity in highland ponds. Gupta and Chandra (2016) identified 33

species pertaining to 30 genera under 5 families in Achanakmar Wildlife Sanctuary, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, India

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and Sen (2021) reported a total of 55 species belonging to 42 Genus under 11 families in North East Gariaband

Forest Regions of Chhattisgarh, India.

CONCLUSION

This study represents the first investigation of Araneae diversity within the Amakoni Reservoir. It elucidates the

ecological significance of this taxonomic group, which has been historically underrepresented in regional

arachnological literature. As key predators in the food chain, spiders play a vital role in maintaining the

ecosystem. These findings offer significant utility for subsequent research, conservation strategies, and reserve

management. Based on these findings, conservation strategies should be developed to protect spider habitats and

promote biodiversity. Furthermore, this study advances the broader understanding of India’s arachnid diversity,

facilitating more informed conservation planning.

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