New distributional range record of the Red slate ornamental spider Poecilotheria rufilata (Theraphosidae) in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu

The distributional records of Poecilotheria species are scarce, yet it is crucial to know their distribution patterns for effective species conservation. In this article, we present a new distributional range for Poecilotheria rufilata. During a spider survey conducted in August 2022 at Anaimalai Tiger Reserve in Tamil Nadu, a male P. rufilata, commonly known as the Red slate ornamental tarantula, was sighted. This species has limited distributional data, with the type locality being Peppara Dam in the Agastyavanam Reserve of the Western Ghats in Kerala. The observation of P. rufilata in Anaimalai Tiger Reserve expands our knowledge of the species range and highlights the need for continued distributional work to identify the distribution patterns of Poecilotheria spp in Tamil Nadu. Such studies are crucial for developing effective conservation strategies to protect these spiders and their habitats.