Spiroctenus flavopunctatus
| Hogsback Spiroctenus Trapdoor Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Bemmeridae |
| Genus: | Spiroctenus |
| Species: | S. flavopunctatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Spiroctenus flavopunctatus (Purcell, 1903)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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Spiroctenus flavopunctatus is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa.[1]
Distribution
Spiroctenus flavopunctatus is known only from the type locality in the Amatola Mountains at Hogsback.[2]
Habitat
The species inhabits the Forest Biome, with the type specimen found in a rotten tree trunk.[2]
Description
Only females of Spiroctenus flavopunctatus are known to science.[3] The spider is olivaceous in color with yellow streaks. The chelicerae are nearly black. The legs are olivaceous, but the patellae and naked strips on the tibiae and metatarsi are yellowish. The opisthosoma is deep purplish black with numerous conspicuous roundish pale yellow spots above and at the sides, but lacks the typical tree-pattern. Females have 28-32 cuspules on the labium and 38-52 cuspules on the maxillae. The paired tarsal claws have 2-4 teeth on the inner margin and 2-3 teeth on the outer margin. The total length is 17 millimeters.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons, as males remain unknown and the full species range requires further study.[2]
References
- ^ "Spiroctenus flavopunctatus (Purcell, 1903)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
- ^ a b c Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Bemmeridae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. Irene. pp. 1–41. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7810486. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ a b Purcell, W.F. (1903). "New South African spiders of the families Migidae, Ctenizidae, Barychelidae Dipluridae, and Lycosidae". Annals of the South African Museum. 3: 69–142.