''Cilantica'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
n
tarantulas
Tarantulas comprise a group of large and often hairy spiders of the Family (biology), family Theraphosidae. , 1,100 species have been identified, with 166 genera. The term "tarantula" is usually used to describe members of the family Therap ...
that was described by Mirza in 2024.
Two members from ''
Haploclastus'' were transferred into the genus along with one new species. They are only found in the
Palakkad Gap
Palakkad Gap or Palghat Gap is a low mountain pass in the Western Ghats between Coimbatore in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and Palakkad in the state of Kerala. It has an average elevation of with a width of . The pass is located between the ...
.
Etymology
The name is the Latinized form of the
Tamil
Tamil may refer to:
People, culture and language
* Tamils, an ethno-linguistic group native to India, Sri Lanka, and some other parts of Asia
**Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka
** Myanmar or Burmese Tamils, Tamil people of Ind ...
word for spider, s''ilanthi'' (சிலந்த).
Diagnosis
Large spiders, measuring 25–38 mm. The carapace is oval, hairy, with two distinct setae-free bands on each side of the caput. The fovea is shallow and curved. The posterior sternal sigilla are not very deep and are placed near the center. The retrolateral face of the chelicerae has parallel rows of thick, curved setae. The prolateral face of the maxilla features stout black bristles arranged along the suture line. Spines are present on legs II–IV. The spermathecae are mound-shaped. Females carry the egg sac under their chelicerae.
Ecology
The burrow is typically found on mud walls and embankments along streams, with a tubular extension made of soil, leaves, or other nearby materials. Females of ''
Cilantica agasthyaensis'' were observed at two locations holding their egg sacs under the chelicerae.
Species
As of January 2025, it contains three species, all found in
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
:
*''
Cilantica agasthyaensis''
(Mirza, 2024) (
type
Type may refer to:
Science and technology Computing
* Typing, producing text via a keyboard, typewriter, etc.
* Data type, collection of values used for computations.
* File type
* TYPE (DOS command), a command to display contents of a file.
* ...
)
*''
Cilantica devamatha''
(Prasanth & Sunil Jose, 2014)
*''
Cilantica kayi
''Cilantica'' is a genus of Indian tarantulas that was described by Mirza in 2024. Two members from '' Haploclastus'' were transferred into the genus along with one new species. They are only found in the Palakkad Gap.
Etymology
The name is the ...
''
(Gravely, 1915)
See also
*
List of Theraphosidae species
This page lists all described genera and species of the spider family Theraphosidae. , the World Spider Catalog accepted 1041 species in 156 genera:
A ''Acanthopelma''
'' Acanthopelma'' F. O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1897
* '' Acanthopelma beccarii ...
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q131784946
Theraphosidae genera
Spiders of the Indian subcontinent
Theraphosidae