Platyoides quinquedentatus
| Platyoides quinquedentatus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Trochanteriidae |
| Genus: | Platyoides |
| Species: | P. quinquedentatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Platyoides quinquedentatus Purcell, 1907[1]
| |
Platyoides quinquedentatus is a species of spider in the family Trochanteriidae. It is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa.[2]
Distribution
Platyoides quinquedentatus is known only from a few localities in the Western Cape, where it occurs at elevations between 15 and 266 m above sea level. The species was originally described from Swellendam.[3]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Fynbos biome. Like other scorpion spiders, it is a free-living wanderer with a flattened body adapted for life in narrow crevices under bark or rocks.[3]
Description
Only females of Platyoides quinquedentatus are known to science. The carapace and chelicerae are dark mahogany brown, while the legs are similarly colored or lighter and more yellowish. The opisthosoma is blackened with a paler, yellowish longitudinal dorsal stripe on each side.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons, as males remain unknown and the full species range requires further study. It is protected in De Hoop Nature Reserve.[3]
References
- ^ Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7. 20 (118): 297–336. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
- ^ "Platyoides quinquedentatus Purcell, 1907". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Trochanteriidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. Irene. pp. 1–18. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6659336. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.