Theuma parva
| Eierfontein Theuma Long Spinneret Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Female | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Prodidomidae |
| Genus: | Theuma |
| Species: | T. parva
|
| Binomial name | |
| Theuma parva | |
Theuma parva is a species of spider in the family Prodidomidae.[2] It is a southern African endemic commonly known as the Eierfontein Theuma long spinneret ground spider.[3]
Distribution
Theuma parva occurs in Zimbabwe and South Africa.[3]
In South Africa, it is recorded from Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Northern Cape. Notable locations include Johannesburg, iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Polokwane Nature Reserve, and Eierfontein.[3]
Habitat and ecology
Theuma parva is a free-running ground dweller found in Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 6 to 1,762 m above sea level.[3]
Description
Conservation
Theuma parva 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 three protected areas, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, and Polokwane Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by William Frederick Purcell in 1907 from Eierfontein in the Northern Cape.[1] It has not been revised and is known only from the male sex. The female still needs to be described.[3]
References
- ^ a b Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7. 20 (118): 303. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
- ^ "Theuma parva Purcell, 1907". 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. 34. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515818. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.