Pandava (spider)

The genus Pandava comprises spiders belonging to the family Titanoecidae. These spiders are generally small to medium in size and are found in various parts of the world, including Asia and Africa.

Pandava spiders are characterized by their distinctive cribellate silk, a type of silk produced by a specialized spinning organ called the cribellum. This silk is characteristically fuzzy and is used to construct irregular webs used for trapping prey. They also possess a calamistrum, a comb-like structure on their fourth pair of legs, which is used to comb and apply the cribellate silk.

Taxonomic classification of Pandava spiders, like that of many spider genera, has been subject to revision over time. New species are occasionally described, and existing species may be reclassified based on morphological or molecular data. Information about the precise number of species within the Pandava genus, and their specific geographical distribution, should be verified with current taxonomic resources.

Their habitat typically includes under rocks, leaf litter, and similar sheltered locations. Pandava spiders are predators, feeding on small invertebrates that become entangled in their webs. Detailed studies of their behavior, reproduction, and ecological role remain limited compared to more well-known spider groups.