Revision of the Asian spider genus Pandava Lehtinen (Araneae: Titanoecidae): description of five new species and first record of Titanoecidae from Africa

The spider genus Pandava Lehtinen previously included two species, P. laminata (Thorell) and P. hunanensis Yin and Bao, known from Asia and the Pacific Islands. The genus is diagnosed by the reduced tegular process on the male palp and the anterior position of the copulatory openings on the female epigynum. In this paper, we present updated descriptions for the known species of Pandava and we describe five new species: Pandava shiva sp. nov. from Pakistan, Pandava sarasvati sp. nov. from Myanmar; Pandava ganesha sp. nov., Pandava kama sp. nov. and Pandava ganga sp. nov., all from India. We also update the generic distribution including the first records of Titanoecidae from Africa.

Lakeside Scholar fellowship

Lakeside Scholar fellowship

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo-FAPESP

Ernst Mayr Collection Study Grant

Ernst Mayr Collection Study Grant

National Science Foundation (NSF), USA[DEB-0072713]

U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF)

National Science Foundation (USA)

National Science Foundation (USA)[EAR-0228699]

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Conselho Nacional do Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico-CNPq