Environment and ecology
Pilia malenadu – New Species of Jumping Spider
- A new species of jumping spider belonging to the Pilia genus has been discovered in Madhugundi village, Mudigere taluk, Chikkamagaluru, Karnataka.
- The species has been named “Pilia malenadu”, after the region where it was found.
- The discovery has been published in Zootaxa, an international scientific journal.
- This is significant because the last Pilia species was discovered 123 years ago (in 1902) in Kerala.
- Researchers found both male and female spiders for the first time in this genus.
- A total of 24 individuals were identified: 17 males, 3 females, and 4 juveniles.
- The discovery was made by Ajit Padiyar, a naturalist at a resort in Madhugundi.
- The spiders were found only on two plant species — Memecylon umbellatum and Memecylon malabaricum.
- The finding highlights a healthy ecosystem in the Western Ghats foothills and the need for habitat conservation.
- Madhugundi is also the site where the saffron reedtail damselfly, a rare species endemic to the Western Ghats, was found earlier.
CITES
- A CITES committee (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) has recommended India temporarily stop issuing import permits for endangered animals.
- The pause applies to zoos, wildlife rescue, and rehabilitation centres until India reviews its import practices and ensures full compliance with CITES rules.
About CITES
- CITES, also known as the Washington Convention, was signed on 3rd March 1973 during the World Wildlife Conference and came into force on 1st July 1975(completed 50 years).
- Voluntary international agreement between governments ensuring international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
- It subjects international trade to certain controls covering all import, export, re-export, through a licensing system.
- Secretariat: Administered by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at Geneva, Switzerland.
- IUCN provides scientific and technical services to the CITES Secretariat.
- The Convention now has 185 Parties, including India (a member since 1976) and the European Union.
