Aphantaulax australis
| Aphantaulax australis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Aphantaulax |
| Species: | A. australis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aphantaulax australis | |
Aphantaulax australis is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is endemic to the Eastern Cape of South Africa.
Distribution
Aphantaulax australis is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It has been recorded from Port Elizabeth and Addo Elephant National Park.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species is a free-living plant dweller sampled from the Thicket biome at 7 m above sea level.[3]
Description
The carapace is blackish, furnished above with broad median band of long whitish hairs. The abdomen is oblong, rounded anteriorly, posteriorly obtusely truncate with dorsal surface black and shiny. It is furnished anteriorly with large spots, and near middle on each side with transversely elongate spots, and posteriorly above spinnerets with a transversely elongate spot, all ornamented with white hairs. The tarsi and metatarsi of anterior pair of legs are sparsely scopulate. Total length is 5 mm.[3]
Conservation
Aphantaulax australis is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The species is protected in the Addo Elephant National Park. More sampling is needed to collect females and determine the species' range.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1893 from Port Elizabeth. It has not been revised and is known only from males.[3]
References
- ^ Simon, E. (1893). "Études arachnologiques. 25e Mémoire. XL. Descriptions d'espèces et de genres nouveaux de l'ordre des Araneae". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 62: 299–330.
- ^ "Aphantaulax australis Simon, 1893". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. part 1 (A-D). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 17. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197174. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.