Messapus meridionalis
| Messapus meridionalis | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Corinnidae |
| Genus: | Messapus |
| Species: | M. meridionalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Messapus meridionalis Haddad & Mbo, 2015
| |
Messapus meridionalis is a spider species in the family Corinnidae.[1][2]
Distribution
Messapus meridionalis is endemic to South Africa, known only from KwaZulu-Natal Province.[1] The species is known only from the type locality, Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve.[2]
Habitat and ecology
This species is free-living and was sampled during canopy fogging in riparian forest in the Savanna biome at 416 m above sea level.[2]
Description
Conservation
Messapus meridionalis is listed as Data Deficient for Taxonomic reasons by the South African National Biodiversity Institute.[2] It is possibly under-collected and more localities are suspected to occur. More sampling is needed to collect the male and determine the species' range.[2] There are no known threats to the species.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was described by Haddad & Mbo in 2015 from Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal.[2] It is known only from the female.[1]
References
- ^ a b c "Messapus meridionalis Haddad & Mbo, 2015". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Haddad, C.R.; Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Corinnidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 62. doi:10.5281/zenodo.8300753. Retrieved 22 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.