Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) have discovered two new species of jumping spiders in Meghalaya, a ZSI spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday. The newly identified species, Asemonea dentis and Colyttus nongwar, belong to the Salticidae family, which is known for its swift reflexes and hunting technique of stalking and leaping on prey instead of building webs.

According to the research team led by scientist Souvik Sen, the findings highlight only a fraction of Northeast India’s rich biodiversity. He noted that limited systematic surveys have been conducted in the region and that many species are likely yet to be documented.

ZSI Director Dhriti Banerjee said more extensive surveys are needed across the Northeast to better document India’s natural heritage. She described Meghalaya’s forests, sacred groves, and cliffs as ecologically significant landscapes.

The discovery marks only the third Indian species of the genus Asemonea. The species dentis is named for a distinctive tooth-like projection on the male’s palpal femur. Males feature a greenish-brown body with a V-shaped pale yellow abdominal mark, while females are creamy white with black patterns.

The second species, Colyttus nongwar, is the second from the Oriental genus Colyttus recorded in India and is named after Nongwar village in Meghalaya, where the specimen was collected.