Geolycosa subvittata
| Cape Geolycosa wolf spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Lycosidae |
| Genus: | Geolycosa |
| Species: | G. subvittata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Geolycosa subvittata (Pocock, 1900)
| |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Geolycosa subvittata is a species of spider in the family Lycosidae.[1] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Cape Geolycosa wolf spider.[2]
Distribution
Geolycosa subvittata is found in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa.[2] Notable locations include Grahamstown (now Makhanda), Port Elizabeth, Table Mountain National Park, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and several other sites in the Cape region.[2]
Habitat and ecology
This species is a ground dweller known to live in burrows.[2]
It has been sampled from the Fynbos and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 5 to 552 m.[2]
Description
Known from both sexes, Geolycosa subvittata is smaller than the related G. hectoria but has a similar dorsal color pattern. It has two yellow stripes on the abdomen. Ventrally, it bears a median longitudinal black stripe.[3]
The tibiae are not distinctly banded.[3]
Males measure 11 mm in total length, while females measure 14 mm.[3]
Conservation
The species has a large range and is protected in Table Mountain National Park and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden.[2]
However, most specimens were sampled around 1900, and the species is threatened by loss of habitat.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Pocock in 1900 as Lycosa subvittata from Port Elizabeth.[3] It was later revised by Roewer in 1959.[4]
References
- ^ a b "Geolycosa subvittata (Pocock, 1900)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Lycosidae of South Africa. Version 1: part 1 (A-H). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 51. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324709. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ a b c d Pocock, R.I. (1900). "Some new Arachnida from Cape Colony". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7. 6 (33): 327. doi:10.1080/00222930008678382.
- ^ Roewer, C.F. (1959). "Araneae Lycosaeformia II (Lycosidae)". Exploration du Parc National de l'Upemba, Mission G. F. de Witte. 55: 386, f. 216a-d.