Spiroctenus latus

Wellington Spiroctenus Trapdoor Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Bemmeridae
Genus: Spiroctenus
Species:
S. latus
Binomial name
Spiroctenus latus
Purcell, 1904

Spiroctenus latus is a species of spider in the family Bemmeridae. It is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa.[1]

Distribution

Spiroctenus latus is known only from the type locality at Wellington.[2]

Habitat

The species inhabits the Fynbos Biome as a ground-dwelling burrow constructor.[2]

Description

Only males of Spiroctenus latus are known to science.[3] The carapace is reddish brown with blackened margins. The legs are darkened with a brownish tinge. The opisthosoma is pale yellow dorsally and laterally with thick black reticulation. The total length is 15 mm.[3]

Conservation

The species is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons, as females remain unknown and the full species range requires further study.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Spiroctenus latus Purcell, 1904". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b Purcell, W.F. (1904). "Descriptions of new genera and species of South African spiders". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 15: 115–173.