Corresponding author: Suresh P. Benjamin (
Academic editor: Danilo Harms
Nine new species of goblin spiders are described in six different genera:
Sri Lanka is home to 393 species of spiders classified in 45 families (
Specimens were collected by sifting litter and leaving the residue overnight in a Winkler extractor or by hand-sorting the residue. The collected specimens were examined using an Olympus SZX7 stereomicroscope. Specimens were preserved in 70% ethanol. Preserved specimens were identified using recently published studies (
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, Northern Province, Jaffna District, Mandaitivu
1 female; same locality data (IFS_Oon_406) (
The male of
This specific name is a noun in apposition named after “Bom” a magnificent goblin in the story of “The Goblins Looking-Glass” by Enid
Known only from the type locality (Fig.
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, North Western Province, Puttalam District, Wanathavilluwa,
1 male and 3 females; same locality data (IFS_Oon_008–011) (
2 males; Sri Lanka, Central Province, Kandy District, Gannoruwa
The male of
The species is named for the first author’s husband P. L. Dharmapriya.
Wanathavilluwa, Gannoruwa
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, Uva Province, Badulla District, 189th mile post, Between Koslanda and Beragala,
Males are easily identified by medially constricted abdomen in lateral view (Fig.
This species name is a noun in apposition named after “Chippy” a brownie and one of the characters in the story “Billy’s Little Boats” by
Coloration: carapace brown, sternum and mouthparts orange-brown, abdominal scuta brown, legs yellow-brown, palps pale dark brown. Carapace ovoid (Fig.
Known only from the type locality (Fig.
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, Sabaragamuwa Province, Kegalle District, Kurulukelle
4 males, 1 female; same locality data (IFS_Oon_247–251) (
1 female; Sri Lanka, Central Province, Kandy District, Meemure,
Both males and females of
Chelicerae fangs straight, anterior face unmodified, without tooth-like projections, chelicerae inner margin with enlarged setae (ceh). Labium triangular, fused to sternum, anterior margin indented at middle. Endites not excavated distally. Abdomen elongated oval, rounded posteriorly (Fig.
Kurulukelle
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, North Western Province, Kurunegala District, Ethagala
1 female; same locality data (IFS_Oon_050) (
This species a noun in apposition named after “Snooky” a goblin and a main character in the story “The Firework Goblins” written by Blyton in 1971.
Known only from the type locality (Fig.
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, North Central Province, Anuradhapura District, Mihinthale
1 female; same locality data; (IFS_Oon_264). 1 male; same locality data, 14 June 2016, leg. N. Athukorala et al. (IFS_Oon_372) (
Males of
This species is a noun in apposition named after “Tumpy” a little goblin in the story, The Goblins Looking-Glass by
Known only from the type locality (Fig.
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, Western Province, Colombo District, Labugama
This species is named after Michael Saaristo (1938–2008) colleague and friend who worked extensively on the goblin spiders of the Seychelles.
Coloration: carapace usually orange, sternum and mouthparts orange, abdominal scuta orange-yellow, legs pale orange, palps pale orange. Carapace elongated oval in dorsal view, anteriorly narrowed 0.5 times its maximum width (Fig.
Labugama
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, Central Province, Matale District,
This species is a noun in apposition named after “Snippy” a brownie and one of the characters in the story “Billy’s Little Boats” by Blyton in 1971.
Known only from the type locality (Fig.
Male holotype from Sri Lanka, Central Province, Kandy District, Corbett's Gap, Knuckles range,
1 male; Sri Lanka, Central Province, Kandy District, Knuckles site 01, litter, 07 April 2015, leg. N. Athukorala (IFS_Oon_290); 1 female; Central Province, Kandy District, Dunumadalawa
This species is a noun in apposition named after “Tiggy” a brownie and one of the characters in the story “Billy’s Little Boats” by Blyton in 1971.
The association of this single female, collected from a locality further away from the type locality should be considered provisional.
Corbett’s Gap, Knuckles site 01, possibly in Dunumadalawa
Distribution map of new species.
Here we report the discovery of nine new species of goblin spiders in six different genera:
Three species of
In stark contrast to most oonopids of the island, which are short-range endemics (Ranasinghe & Benjamin, 2016a, b),
Three new
This study was funded by the National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy. Special thanks to N. Athukorala for support in the field. We also thank S. Batuwita, H. Sandamali, C. Clayton, N. Kanesharatnam and I. Sandunika (all of