Stasimopus patersonae
| Stasimopus patersonae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Mygalomorphae |
| Family: | Stasimopidae |
| Genus: | Stasimopus |
| Species: | S. patersonae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Stasimopus patersonae Hewitt, 1913[1]
| |
Stasimopus patersonae is a species of spider in the family Stasimopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa.[3]
Etymology
The species is named after Paterson, though the specific individual referenced is not detailed in available sources.
Distribution
Stasimopus patersonae is endemic to the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. It is found at Alicedale, Perseverance Uitenhage Road in Port Elizabeth, and Redhouse. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 5 to 311 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Thicket biome. Stasimopus patersonae is a ground dweller that constructs silk-lined burrows closed with a D-shaped cork-lid trapdoor.[3]
Description
Stasimopus patersonae is known from both sexes. Females have a carapace and appendages that are very dark brown, almost black, with the abdomen fuscous and lower surfaces dark brown. The patch of red spinules on patella IV is not very large, being conspicuous over about half the segment, though scattered spines extend almost to the distal margin.[3]
Conservation
Stasimopus patersonae is listed as Data Deficient by the IUCN. The species has a restricted range. All specimens were collected prior to 1913. The species is threatened by habitat loss for infrastructure development in Port Elizabeth and Alicedale. The status of the species remains obscure, and more sampling is needed to determine its full range.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Hewitt in 1913 from Port Elizabeth. It has not been revised since its original description and is known from both sexes, though not illustrated.[3]
References
- ^ Hewitt, J. (1913). "Descriptions of new and little known species of trapdoor spiders (Ctenizidae and Migidae) from South Africa". Records of the Albany Museum Grahamstown. 2: 404–434.
- ^ "Stasimopus patersonae Hewitt, 1913". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Stasimopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 35. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162178. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.