This newly discovered spider appears to be smiling
The new species evolved independently from Hawaii's famous Happy-Face Spider and displays dozens of striking color variations.
Researchers have discovered a massive spider web in Sulfur Cave, located at the Greece and Albania border. This described “web supercity” is home to an estimated 110,000 spiders.
A unique spider that appears to be sporting a smile was recently discovered in the western Himalayas.
In a study published by Evolutionary Systematics, scientists discovered the spider in Uttarakhand, India, which resembles the Happy-Face Spider found in Hawaii. The new species, termed Theridion himalayana, is more commonly called the Himalayan Happy-Face Spider due to its pattern of black, white and red dots that resemble a smile.
A. Cephalothorax of female holotype of T. himalayana sp. nov.; B. Showing the eye, chelicera and the fangs; C. Showing the eyes of the female. (Image credit: Ashirwad Tripathy and Devi Priyadarshini, Evolutionary Systematics)
During fieldwork between April 2023 and October 2024, scientists collected and examined 61 spiders from three study sites. The species was usually found on the undersides of large leaves in the Himalayan moist temperate deciduous forest. Its upside-down web was also difficult to detect, consisting of long silk strands that ran parallel to the leaf surface.
Researchers found 32 distinct color variations, called “morphs,” across the three sites, which were grouped into five main categories. They discovered the spiders' color patterns were strongly linked to sex, with males and females displaying different dominant morphs. The scientists added that more research is needed to determine the exact cause of these differences.
Collage showing morphs of some of the males and females in the population with different polymorphic patterns on abdomen. (Image credit: Ashirwad Tripathy and Devi Priyadarshini, Evolutionary Systematics)
Experts also found an 8.5% genetic variation from the Hawaiian Happy-Face spider, confirming the two are not closely related and evolved independently.
Most Happy-Face spiders are greenish yellow with slender, light-yellow legs. They are also quite small, with females measuring about 2.94 mm in length and males reaching 2.23 mm. Researchers described the species as non-aggressive and slow-moving, since they did not attempt to jump off or drop dead like other spiders.
While the spider was found on various broad-leaved plants, one notable location was the ginger lily (Hedychium coronarium). Hawaii’s Happy-Face Spider has also been found on this plant, which raises questions about whether the ginger lily is an important microhabitat for both species.
Habitus of live male (A) and female (B) Theridion himalayana sp. nov. (Image credit: Ashirwad Tripathy and Devi Priyadarshini, Evolutionary Systematics)
Like many wildlife species, the Himalayan Happy-Face Spider faces threats. The researchers found these arachnids near the National Highway near the Kedarnath Wildlife Sanctuary in areas subject to tourist and construction activities, which could disturb the population.
“If the habitat gets further disturbed due to human activities, the spiders may lose their niche and microhabitat, which they occupy amidst vegetation,” study authors Ashirwad Tripathy and Devi Priyadarshini wrote.
Since these spiders live exclusively on the undersides of certain broad-leaved plants, this also makes them vulnerable to changes in local vegetation, such as plant disease or deforestation.
By studying the spider more closely, scientists could learn how a single species can develop so many colors and patterns.
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