In the summer of 2023, arachnophiles Nisha B G and Chinmay Maliye set off on an intriguing excursion to the forests of Devarayanadurga in Tumakuru district, Karnataka. Their journey on April 2—a lovely Sunday afternoon—was expressly intended to investigate spider habitats in the lush hill ranges, including the source of the Jayamangali River. They encountered some common spider species before making an unexpected find of the jumping spider ‘Tenkana’.

Around late afternoon, Nisha observed a spider leaping from the dense leaf litter. This jumping spider quickly drew her attention, and she suspected it was an unknown species. Excited, she beckoned Chinmay, who was close, but the spider rapidly disappeared into the underbrush. After a long search, they discovered it again, and Nisha took photographs. Recognising the rarity of their probable discovery, they contacted John Caleb, an arachnologist and acquaintance, who confirmed that it could be a new species or genus.

The Rise of Jumping Spider Tenkana Jayamangali

Chinmay and Nisha were eager to learn more, so they shared the photos with another buddy, Lohit Y T. A few months later, Lohit and a group of children went to the region, where they discovered further specimens. Interestingly, while Nisha and Chinmay found the spider near the mountaintop, Lohit located it in the foothills, nearly two km away. He saw male and female spiders in plenty and meticulously documented and collected samples, which he then sent to John Caleb for analysis.

The specimens underwent phylogenetic analysis with help from labs such as the University of British Columbia, the National Centre for Biological Science (NCBS) in India, and Saveetha Medical College and Hospital. The findings identified it as a new genus, now known as Tenkana Jayamangali, with “Tenkana” meaning “south” in Kannada, reflecting its southern India location. The authors reported their findings in the journal ZooKeys. Tenkana Jayamangali appears to be a ground-dwelling spider species adapted to peculiar, shady microhabitats with dense leaf litter and grassy underbrush. Its movement patterns are similar to those of ground-dwelling Stenaelurillus jumping spiders, although they are unrelated.

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Sightings and Appearance

Lohit observed remarkable sexual dimorphism in the species. The males have a stunning colour pattern that resembles a panda’s face, with a brownish belly, whilst the females have a milder grey tone with distinct markings. So far, this species has only been discovered in India, with additional observations in Bannerghatta, near Bengaluru, and Yercaud, Tamil Nadu. The researchers believe that Tenkana Jayamangali is common, with Nisha reporting additional sightings under fallen leaves around six kilometres from their first discovery site.

The jumping spiders ‘Tenkana’ now contains three confirmed species: Tenkana Jayamangali, Tenkana Arkavathi (discovered in 2022 in Karnataka’s Nandi Hills), and Tenkana Manu. The team aims to continue studying this extraordinary genus to understand better its habitat, breeding patterns, and ecological vulnerabilities, paving the way for future discoveries and conservation efforts, including India’s diverse spider population.

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