Hahnia laticeps

Simonstown Comb-Tailed Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Hahniidae
Genus: Hahnia
Species:
H. laticeps
Binomial name
Hahnia laticeps
Simon, 1898

Hahnia laticeps is a species of spider in the family Hahniidae.[1] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Simonstown comb-tailed spider.[2]

Distribution

Hahnia laticeps is endemic to South Africa, known from three provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape. The species occurs at elevations ranging from 39 to 2985 m above sea level. Numerous specimens were recently sampled on the Sani Pass in the Drakensberg.[2]

Habitat and ecology

The species makes small sheet-webs in litter in the Grassland and Fynbos biomes.[2]

Description

Hahnia laticeps is known only from the female.[2]

Conservation

Hahnia laticeps is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. The species is protected in four protected areas.[2]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1898 from Simon's Town in the Western Cape.[1][2]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hahnia laticeps Simon, 1898". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Hahniidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 8. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324696. Retrieved 23 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.