Galeosoma pallidum
| Saltpan Shield-Bum Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Idiopidae |
| Genus: | Galeosoma |
| Species: | G. pallidum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Galeosoma pallidum Hewitt, 1916[1]
| |
Galeosoma pallidum is a species of spider in the family Idiopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Saltpan shield-bum trapdoor spider.[3]
Distribution
Galeosoma pallidum is recorded only from localities in Gauteng Province, including Alewynspoort, Pretoria, Saltpan, Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Centurion, Garstfontein, and other areas around the Pretoria metropolitan region.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species constructs silk-lined burrows in soil with the entrance closed by a wafer-type trapdoor. It inhabits the Grassland biome at altitudes ranging from 1,246 to 1,650 m above sea level.[3]
Description
Galeosoma pallidum is known from both sexes. Females have a carapace, pedipalps and legs that are pale yellowish in colour, with brown chelicerae and a black opisthosoma shield. The dorsal shield forms a thick disk with a sharply defined flat upper surface and a fairly deep marginal surface inclined at right angles to each other. The junction between the two surfaces forms a slightly upturned ridge. Anteriorly, the upper and marginal surfaces become more obtusely inclined to each other and their junction becomes ill-defined. Total length is approximately 21 mm.[3]
Conservation
Galeosoma pallidum is listed as Endangered due to its restricted range and ongoing threats from urban development.[3] The species is currently known from fewer than five extant locations and is threatened throughout its range by urban development. It receives some protection in Groenkloof Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by John Hewitt in 1916 from Saltpan in Gauteng Province.[1] The species has not been revised.[3]
References
- ^ a b Hewitt, J. (1916). "Descriptions of several new or rare species of Araneae from the Transvaal and neighbourhood". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 5: 89–100.
- ^ "Galeosoma pallidum Hewitt, 1915". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Idiopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 18. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324502. Retrieved 22 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.