Copa flavoplumosa
| African ground lycosiform sac spider | |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Juvenile male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Corinnidae |
| Genus: | Copa |
| Species: | C. flavoplumosa[1]
|
| Binomial name | |
| Copa flavoplumosa[1] Simon, 1886
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Copa flavoplumosa is a species of spider in the family Corinnidae.[1] It is widely distributed throughout the Afrotropical Region and is commonly known as the African ground lycosiform sac spider.[2]
Etymology
The species name flavoplumosa is Latin for "yellow-feathered".
Distribution
Copa flavoplumosa has a wide distribution throughout the Afrotropical Region. In South Africa, it occurs in all nine provinces at altitudes ranging from 6 to 2,102 m above sea level.[2]
The species is recorded from numerous locations across South Africa, including protected areas such as Great Fish River Wetland Park, Mkambati Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, and De Hoop Nature Reserve.[2]
Habitat and ecology
Copa flavoplumosa is a free-living ground-dweller mainly found in the leaf litter layer of most major biome types in Africa, except for true deserts and Karoo habitats. The species inhabits Grassland, Forest, Fynbos, and Savanna biomes.[2]
The species has also been collected from agricultural areas including avocado, citrus, macadamia, and pistachio orchards, as well as strawberry fields, cotton fields, and maize crops. Adult females construct papery yellow-brown egg sacs approximately 10 millimeters in diameter inside curled dead leaves on the ground.[2]
Description
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female
-
female
Conservation
Copa flavoplumosa is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species faces no significant threats and is recorded from more than ten protected areas across South Africa.
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1886. The continental African species of the genus Copa were revised by Charles R. Haddad in 2013, who synonymized Copa benina Strand, 1916 and Copa benina nigra Lessert, 1933 with C. flavoplumosa.
References
- ^ a b "Copa flavoplumosa Simon, 1886". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Haddad, C.R.; Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Corinnidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. pp. 21–22. doi:10.5281/zenodo.8300753. Retrieved 22 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.