Drassodella salisburyi

Salisbury’s Long-Jawed Ground Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gallieniellidae
Genus: Drassodella
Species:
D. salisburyi
Binomial name
Drassodella salisburyi
Hewitt, 1916
Synonyms
  • Drassodella salisburii Hewitt, 1916

Drassodella salisburyi is a species of spider in the family Gallieniellidae. It is the type species of the genus Drassodella and is endemic to South Africa.[1]

Distribution

Drassodella salisburyi is endemic to the Eastern Cape province at elevations ranging from 222–1488 m above sea level. Known localities include Asante Sana Game Reserve, Grahamstown (type locality), Kentani, Van Stadens Pass, and Great Fish River Reserve.[2]

Habitat

The species was sampled in some localities with pitfall traps and is recorded from Thicket, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, and Fynbos biomes.[2]

Description

Both sexes are known. They can be recognized by the broad pale median band on the opisthosoma dorsally.[2]

Conservation

Drassodella salisburyi is listed as Least Concern as it has a wide enough distribution range. The species is protected in Asante Sana Private Game Reserve and Great Fish River Reserve. Threats to the species are not considered significant.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Drassodella salisburyi Hewitt, 1916". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Mbo, Z.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Gallieniellidae of South Africa (Report). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. pp. 1–37. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14065070. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.