Dresserus olivaceus

Dresserus olivaceus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Eresidae
Genus: Dresserus
Species:
D. olivaceus
Binomial name
Dresserus olivaceus
Pocock, 1900[1]

Dresserus olivaceus is a species of spider in the family Eresidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa.[3]

Distribution

Dresserus olivaceus is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The species is known only from the type locality of Grahamstown.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is rare and found in retreat webs made under rocks in the Thicket biome. It inhabits areas at an altitude of 552 m above sea level.[3]

Description

Dresserus olivaceus is known only from females. The species is darker in colour above and below, being of a silky greenish black.[3]

Conservation

Dresserus olivaceus is listed as Data Deficient due to taxonomic reasons. The species has a very restricted range. The status remains obscure as males have not been collected, and more sampling is needed to determine the species' range. Redescription of the type specimen is needed.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Reginald Innes Pocock in 1900 from Grahamstown. It has not been revised since its original description and remains known only from the female sex.[3]

References

  1. ^ Pocock, R.I. (1900). "Some new Arachnida from Cape Colony". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7. 6 (33): 316–333. doi:10.1080/00222930008678382.
  2. ^ "Dresserus olivaceus Pocock, 1900". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. ^ 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. 15. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6331366. Retrieved 21 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.