Idiops mossambicus
| Mossambique Idiops Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Idiopidae |
| Genus: | Idiops |
| Species: | I. mossambicus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Idiops mossambicus (Hewitt, 1919)[1]
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Idiops mossambicus is a species of spider in the family Idiopidae.[2] It occurs in South Africa and Mozambique and is commonly known as the Mossambique Idiops trapdoor spider.[3]
Distribution
Idiops mossambicus is recorded from KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and Mpumalanga, with additional records from Mozambique. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 47 to 295 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Savanna biome. It lives in silk-lined burrows closed with a trapdoor.[3]
Description
Idiops mossambicus is known from both sexes. The carapace and appendages are pale yellowish brown, while the abdomen is infuscated. Total length is 13.25 mm in males and 18.5 mm in females.[3]
Conservation
Idiops mossambicus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide global range. The species is protected in Ndumo Game Reserve and Kruger National Park.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by John Hewitt in 1919 as Acanthodon mossambicus from Mozambique. The species has not been revised.[3]
References
- ^ Hewitt, J. (1919). "Descriptions of new South African Araneae and Solifugae". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 6: 63–111.
- ^ "Idiops mossambicus (Hewitt, 1919)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f 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. 47. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324502. Retrieved 23 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.