Gasteracantha falcicornis
| Long Wing Kite Spider | |
|---|---|
| red female | |
| yellow female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Araneidae |
| Genus: | Gasteracantha |
| Species: | G. falcicornis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Gasteracantha falcicornis | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Gasteracantha falcicornis is a species of spider belonging to the family Araneidae. It is found in eastern and southern Africa.[2]
Distribution
Gasteracantha falcicornis is known from Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, Eswatini and South Africa.[3]
In South Africa, the species occurs in KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces across a wide geographical range at altitudes from 4 to 750 m above sea level.[3] Notable localities include Empangeni, iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Fanie's Island, Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, Sodwana Bay National Park, Lake Sibaya), Ngoye Forest, Tembe Elephant Park, Avoca, and Komatipoort.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Gasteracantha falcicornis is an orb-web dweller. The webs are usually constructed high in trees or tall shrubs above the observer's eye level. The bridge line is frequently longer than the orb part, giving the impression that the spider is floating in space. The web is sometimes decorated with tufts of silk. The spiders are active during the day and do not remove their webs.[3]
Description
-
female - dorsal
-
female - ventral
The female, larger and more colourful than the male, has a bright red abdomen decorated with many deep black pits. There is a long, curved black horn at each side and two shorter, straight horns at the front and rear.
Conservation
Gasteracantha falcicornis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[3] In South Africa, the species is protected in Kosi Bay Nature Reserve, Ngoye Forest and Tembe Elephant Park. No conservation actions are recommended.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was last revised by Emerit in 1974 and is described only from the female.[3]
References
- ^ Butler, A.G. (1873). "A monographic list of the species of Gasteracantha or crab-spiders, with descriptions of new species". Transactions of the Entomological Society of London. 1873: 153–180.
- ^ "Gasteracantha falcicornis Butler, 1873". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N.; Webb, P. (2022). The Araneidae of South Africa. Version 2: part 2 (E-Ne). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 6. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6619195. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- Preston-Mafham, Ken (1998). Spiders: Compact Study Guide and Identifier. Angus Books. ISBN 978-1-904594-93-2.