Dresserus kannemeyeri
| Kannemeyer's Ground Velvet Spider | |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Eresidae |
| Genus: | Dresserus |
| Species: | D. kannemeyeri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dresserus kannemeyeri Tucker, 1920[1]
| |
Dresserus kannemeyeri is a species of spider in the family Eresidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Kannemeyer's ground velvet spider.[3]
The species is named after South African naturalist Daniel Rossouw Kannemeyer.
Distribution
Dresserus kannemeyeri is endemic to South Africa and has been recorded from the Free State and Gauteng provinces. The species occurs in three protected areas across its range.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species is commonly found in retreat webs under rocks and ground debris, sometimes in compost heaps in gardens. It inhabits areas at altitudes ranging from 1,253 to 1,673 m above sea level in the Grassland biome.[3]
Description
Dresserus kannemeyeri is known from both sexes. The opisthosoma is dull testaceous with moderately long dark setae.[3]
Conservation
Dresserus kannemeyeri is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species has a wide geographic range. There are no significant threats to the species, and it is protected in Mpetsane Conservation Estate, Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, and Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Richard William Ethelbert Tucker in 1920 from Smithfield in the Free State. It has not been revised since its original description.[3]
References
- ^ Tucker, R.W.E. (1920). "Contributions to the South African Arachnid Fauna. II. On some new South African spiders of the families Barychelidae, Dipluridae, Eresidae, Zodariidae, Heracliidae, Urocteidae, Clubionidae". Annals of the South African Museum. 17: 439–488.
- ^ "Dresserus kannemeyeri Tucker, 1920". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Eresidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 10. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6331366. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.