Abstract:
The arboreal spiders in the genus Poecilotheria is represented by 16 species and restricted to India and Sri
Lanka. Each country has eight endemic species. During a survey on mygalomorph spiders in the Northern
Province of Sri Lanka, the critically endangered species of Theraphosidae Poecilotheria hanumavilasumica
was discovered for the first time outside of its native habitat in India, expanding its range to northern Sri
Lanka. The discovery of P. hanumavilasumica is unique, as it used to be a critically endangered and
endemic species of the genus Poecilotheria found in India, and it is evident that during the land bridge
connection between India and Sri Lanka, when the Pleistocene epoch biotic exchange took place between
the two countries, taxa were dispersed through the land connections.