Selenocosmia meghalayensis Sanap, Kadam, Thackeray & Rajkumar, 2026

Described by Rajesh V. Sanap, Gautam Kadam, Tejas Thackeray, Madhumita Rajkumar

♀ Female described
Live specimen Live specimen © Sanap et al. (2026, fig. 2A) — live holotype female NRC-AB-0657

Type Locality and Records

Type locality

Original Description

Sanap, R. V., Kadam, G., Thackeray, T., Rajkumar, M. & Satam, Y. (2026). A new species of the genus Selenocosmia Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from the karst landscapes of Meghalaya, India. Faunitaxys 14(46): 1-9.

Distribution

India

Type Locality: INDIA: Laitkynsew Viewpoint Road, East Khasi Hills, Meghalaya, 741 m elev.

Etymology

A noun in apposition referring to Meghalaya, the Indian state the species was collected in.

Specimen Records (3)

NRC-AB-0657 ♀ Holotype India

Laitkynsew Viewpoint Road, East Khasi Hills, 741 m elev., Meghalaya

col. R. Sanap, Aristone, Y. Satam & Hep

Holotype female of Selenocosmia meghalayensis. Photographed alive; left leg I taken for DNA. Deposited at the NCBS Museum and Research Collection Facility, Bengaluru.

NRC-AB-0659 ♀ Paratype India

South Garo Hills, 231 m elev., Meghalaya

April 2022 · col. G. Kadam

Paratype female of Selenocosmia meghalayensis, and the low-elevation record for the species at 231 m against 741 m for the type locality.

NRC-AB-0658 ♀ Paratype India

Laitkynsew Viewpoint Road, East Khasi Hills, 741 m elev., Meghalaya

col. R. Sanap, Aristone, Y. Satam & Hep

Paratype female of Selenocosmia meghalayensis, same data as the holotype, also photographed alive.

Bibliography (1)

Sanap, R. V., Kadam, G., Thackeray, T., Rajkumar, M. & Satam, Y. (2026). A new species of the genus Selenocosmia Ausserer, 1871 (Araneae: Theraphosidae) from the karst landscapes of Meghalaya, India. Faunitaxys 14(46): 1-9.