Ballomma haddadi
| Haddad's Ballomma Zodariid spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Ballomma |
| Species: | B. haddadi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ballomma haddadi Jocqué & Henrard, 2015[1]
| |
Ballomma haddadi is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Haddad's Ballomma Zodariid spider.[3]
Etymology
The species is named after Charles R. Haddad, a prominent South African arachnologist.
Distribution
Ballomma haddadi occurs in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. It has been recorded from Woodbush Forest near Polokwane, Kaingo Game Reserve in the Waterberg, and Ohrigstad.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 860 to 1,080 metres above sea level. It occurs in forest environments where it has been sampled by sifting litter.[3]
Description
Ballomma haddadi is known from both sexes. Males are easily recognized by their distinctive pedipalp with a long, thin, sinuous embolus that has a large, sharp process at its base. The cephalothorax is medium brown, and the abdomen is grey with a complex pale pattern. Females have a characteristic epigyne with a dark central area and well-separated spermathecae.[3]
Ecology
Ballomma haddadi are free-living ground-dwellers that inhabit the leaf litter of forest environments. They are collected through litter sifting methods.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as data deficient due to its obscure status. More sampling is needed to determine the full extent of its distribution range.[3]
References
- ^ Jocqué, R.; Henrard, A. (2015). "Ballomma, a new Afrotropical genus in the Cryptothelinae (Araneae, Zodariidae): eyes on the run". European Journal of Taxonomy. 163: 1–24. doi:10.5852/ejt.2015.163.
- ^ "Ballomma haddadi Jocqué & Henrard, 2015". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-D) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 14. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920. Retrieved 20 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.