Echinax natalensis
| Natal pale lycosiform sac spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Corinnidae |
| Genus: | Echinax |
| Species: | E. natalensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Echinax natalensis Haddad, 2012[1]
| |
Echinax natalensis is a species of spider in the family Corinnidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Natal pale lycosiform sac spider.[3]
Distribution
Echinax natalensis is endemic to South Africa and has been recorded from two provinces: Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal at altitudes ranging from 4 to 381 m above sea level.[3]
The species occurs in several protected areas including iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Ndumo Game Reserve, and Mount Coke State Forest.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Echinax natalensis has been collected from tsetse fly traps set up in coastal forest, canopy fogging, and beating of trees in riparian forest and savanna habitats.[3] The species inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Savanna biomes.[3]
Description
Echinax natalensis is known from both sexes.[3] As a member of its genus, it is a small spider that resembles Copa and Copuetta in general body shape, with heavily spined legs and cryptic coloration that resembles wolf spiders.[3]
Conservation
Echinax natalensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[3] There are no significant threats to the species, and it has been recorded from several protected areas.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was described by Charles R. Haddad in 2012 from the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.[1][3]
References
- ^ a b Haddad, C.R. (2012). "A revision of the spider genus Echinax Deeleman-Reinhold, 2001 (Araneae: Corinnidae) in the Afrotropical region". Zootaxa. 3450: 33–61. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3450.1.6.
- ^ "Echinax natalensis Haddad, 2012". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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. p. 35. doi:10.5281/zenodo.8300753. Retrieved 22 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.