Anyphops narcissi
| Swaziland Anyphops Flat Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Selenopidae |
| Genus: | Anyphops |
| Species: | A. narcissi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anyphops narcissi Benoit, 1972[1]
| |
Anyphops narcissi is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae.[2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Swaziland Anyphops flat spider.
Distribution
Anyphops narcissi occurs in South Africa and Eswatini. In South Africa it has been recorded from Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, including Mariepskop, Drakensberg Mountains, Sabie Bergvliet State Forest, Sappi Greystone Plantation near Barberton, and University of Zululand at Empangeni, at altitudes ranging from 78 to 1,382 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Grassland biomes and is a free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground-dwelling spider. It has been sampled from pitfall traps in indigenous forest in state forests and plantations.[3]
Description
Only the female is known. The whole body and legs are pale yellow except for the eyes which appear as dark circles. The abdomen is yellow with a vague darker pattern on the distal half. Metatarsi I and II have three pairs of lower spines arranged in a front row of five and a posterior row of six spines. Total length is 6.3 mm.[3]
Conservation
Anyphops narcissi is listed as Least Concern. Although only known from one sex, the species is widespread across South Africa and Eswatini. It is protected in Sabie Bergvliet State Forest.[3]
References
- ^ Benoit, P.L.G. (1972). "Notules arachnologiques africaines II". Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africaines. 85: 177–182.
- ^ "Anyphops narcissi Benoit, 1972". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ a b c d Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Selenopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. pp. 43–44. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162139. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.