Diversity of Spiders (Arachnida Araneae) with a new record for India in and around Bidhannagar College campus, Salt Lake: part of a reclaimed urban habitat

Spider diversity was recorded from the Bidhannagar College campus and surrounding areas, a relatively new habitat located in a densely populated Salt Lake city near Kolkata that was developed on reclaimed land from East Kolkata Wetlands (India). A total of 35 species of spiders belonging to 26 genera and 13 families were observed. The most significant finding was the documentation of Pronophaea natalica (Simon, 1897), a species previously known only from South Africa, which is now reported for the first time from India. The family Salticidae emerged as the most diverse, comprising 10 species across 7 genera. This was followed by Araneidae, represented by 6 species from 4 genera. The spider assemblage represents a range of ecological guilds and behavioural strategies, indicating a healthy arthropod diversity in this urban green space. The guild structure analysis of the recorded spider assemblage revealed seven functional feeding guilds. Among these, stalkers were the most dominant with 10 species, followed by orb web weavers with 9 species, and ambushers and ground hunters with 5 species each. Less represented guilds included foliage runners with 1 species, scattered line weavers with 2 species, and space web builders with 2 species. Trees and bush foliages were the most preferred habitat for orb web weavers and stalkers. This finding underscores the need for biodiversity monitoring and conservation in rapidly urbanizing landscapes.