Sorting hat spider of the orb-weaver family got its name after the animated character, ‘Sorting Hat’ of the famous Harry Potter series, due to the resemblance the two share. This species, discovered newly in 2015 in Karnataka, a state in India, has been a preferred choice among spider enthusiasts because of its intriguing appearance.

Scientific Classification

• Family: Araneidae
• Genus: Eriovixia
• Scientific name: Eriovixia gryffindori

Physical Description and Identification

Adults

Size: The female spiders are assumably 0.3 inches (0.7 cm) long, while males are comparatively smaller.

Color: They have a grayish body with an orange-brown cephalothorax and legs.

Other Characteristic Features: The body is similar to foliage

Eggs

The eggs are small and round encased within sacs.

Spiderlings

Being a new species, not much has been recorded about the identification of the spiderlings.

The Web

There is no specific data regarding the information but it is likely to make orb webs since it belongs to the family of orb-weavers.

Are Sorting Hat Spiders Venomous

Their venom is not known to have harmful effects on humans.

Quick Facts

Distribution	Throughout Asia
Habitat	Near evergreen, and semi-evergreen vegetation, particularly in deciduous forests
Diet	Small insects
IUCN Conservation Status	Not Listed

Did You Know

• Three Indians, namely, Javed Ahmed, Sumukha Javagal, and Rajashree Khalap, discovered this species in southwestern India’s Western Ghats.
• It is the newest addition and the most well-known one of the 21 species placed in the Eriovixia genus.