Theridion durbanicum
| Durban Theridion comb-feet spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Theridiidae |
| Genus: | Theridion |
| Species: | T. durbanicum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Theridion durbanicum | |
Theridion durbanicum is a species of spider in the family Theridiidae.[1] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Durban Theridion comb-feet spider.[2]
Distribution
Theridion durbanicum is found only in South Africa.[1] It is known from KwaZulu-Natal at Durban Stamford Hill and Wakefield Farm.[2]
Habitat and ecology
This species builds a conical retreat of twigs and leaves in its three-dimensional web. It has been recorded from the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome at 17 m altitude.[2]
Description
The general background is cream. The cephalic portion of the carapace is bordered by a distinct yellow-brown margin and some similarly coloured stripes (six in number) radiating from the region of the thoracic striae. Legs are yellow-brown with pale femora in their basal third or half, tarsi and metatarsi a little darker than the prevailing colour. The sternum and coxae are pale, mouthparts yellow-brown. The abdomen is cream with four narrow well-defined stripes at the sides a little darker than the rest.[3]
Conservation
Theridion durbanicum is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species is known from only two localities with a very small range. The status of the species remains obscure. More sampling is needed to collect the male and to determine the species range.[2]
Taxonomy
Theridion durbanicum was described by Reginald Frederick Lawrence in 1947 from Stamford Hill, Durban. The species has not been revised and is known only from the female.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d "Theridion durbanicum Lawrence, 1947". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Theridiidae of South Africa. Part 2 [R-T]. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 30. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515998. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
- ^ Lawrence, R.F. (1947). "A collection of Arachnida made by Dr. I. Trägårdh in Natal and Zululand (1904-1905)". Göteborgs Kungliga Vetenskaps och Vitterhets Samhälles Handlingar. 6. B5 (9): 1–41.