Theuma foveolata
| Zimbabwe Theuma Long Spinneret Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Prodidomidae |
| Genus: | Theuma |
| Species: | T. foveolata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Theuma foveolata | |
Theuma foveolata is a species of spider in the family Prodidomidae.[2] It is a southern African endemic commonly known as the Zimbabwe Theuma long spinneret ground spider.[3]
Distribution
Theuma foveolata occurs in two southern African countries, Zimbabwe and South Africa.[3]
In South Africa, it is recorded from Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Northern Cape. Notable locations include Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Rooipoort Nature Reserve, and Benfontein Game Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Theuma foveolata is a free-running ground dweller found in Grassland and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 187 to 1,500 m above sea level.[3]
Description
Conservation
Theuma foveolata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[3] There are no significant threats to the species, and it is protected in Rooipoort Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, and Benfontein Game Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Zimbabwe.[1] It has not been revised and is known only from the female sex, though the male was collected but not yet described.[3]
References
- ^ a b Tucker, R.W.E. (1923). "The Drassidae of South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 19 (2): 422.
- ^ "Theuma foveolata Tucker, 1923". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Prodidomidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 30. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515818. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.