Eilica lotzi

Eilica lotzi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gnaphosidae
Genus: Eilica
Species:
E. lotzi
Binomial name
Eilica lotzi
FitzPatrick, 2002[1]

Eilica lotzi is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is endemic to the Free State Province of South Africa.[3]

Distribution

Eilica lotzi is known from the Free State, recorded from Bloemfontein, Amanzi Private Game Reserve, and Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve.[3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a free-living ground dweller sampled with pitfall traps from the Grassland biome at altitudes ranging from 1,288 to 1,357 m above sea level.[3]

Description

Eilica lotzi is known only from the male.[3] The carapace and abdomen are dark brown without pattern, the coxa, trochanter and patella are light brown, and other leg segments are darker brown.[3]

Conservation

Eilica lotzi is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons.[3] The species is protected in Amanzi Private Game Reserve and Tussen-die-Riviere Nature Reserve.[3] More sampling is needed to collect females and determine the species' range.[3]

Etymology

The species is named after arachnologist Leon N. Lotz.

Taxonomy

E. lotzi was originally described by FitzPatrick in 2002 from Bloemfontein.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b FitzPatrick, M.J. (2002). "A new species of Eilica (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)". African Zoology. 37: 108.
  2. ^ "Eilica lotzi FitzPatrick, 2002". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 2 (E-S). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 8. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197672. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.