Tetragnatha caffra

Caffra Long-jawed Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Tetragnathidae
Genus: Tetragnatha
Species:
T. caffra
Binomial name
Tetragnatha caffra
(Strand, 1909)[1]
Synonyms
  • Eucta caffra Strand, 1909

Tetragnatha caffra is a species of spider in the family Tetragnathidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Caffra long-jawed spider.[3]

Distribution

Tetragnatha caffra is known only from a juvenile from the type locality Fish Hoek in the Western Cape, at an altitude of approximately 60 m.[3]

Habitat and ecology

This orb-web dwelling species has been sampled from the Fynbos Biome. Little else is known about its lifestyle.[3]

Description

Conservation

Tetragnatha caffra is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The species is known only from a single unspecified site based on a juvenile specimen. Additional sampling is needed to collect adults and determine the species' range. Threats to the species are unknown.[3]

Taxonomy

The species has not been revised since its original description. It was originally described by Strand in 1909 as Eucta caffra based on a juvenile specimen. The description is not illustrated, and the species remains poorly characterized.[3]

References

  1. ^ Strand, E. (1909). "Spinnentiere von Südafrika und einigen Inseln gesammelt bei der deutschen Südpolar-Expedition". Deutsche Südpolar-Expedition 1901-1905. 10 (5): 541–596.
  2. ^ "Tetragnatha caffra (Strand, 1909)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Tetragnathidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 36. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7513261. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.