Theuma zuluensis

Theuma zuluensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Prodidomidae
Genus: Theuma
Species:
T. zuluensis
Binomial name
Theuma zuluensis

Theuma zuluensis is a species of spider in the family Prodidomidae.[2] It is a KwaZulu-Natal endemic.[3]

Distribution

Theuma zuluensis is known only from South Africa, specifically from KwaZulu-Natal province.[3]

Notable locations include Ophathe Game Reserve, Umfolozi Nature Reserve, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.[3]

Habitat and ecology

Theuma zuluensis is a free-living ground dweller found in the Savanna biome.[3] The species inhabits altitudes ranging from 83 to 405 m above sea level.[3]

Description

Conservation

Theuma zuluensis is listed as Data Deficient for Taxonomic reasons.[3] Threats to the species are unknown. More sampling is needed to collect the male and determine the species' range.[3] The species is known from three protected areas, Ophathe Game Reserve, Umfolozi Nature Reserve, and Mkuze Nature Reserve.[3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Reginald Frederick Lawrence in 1947 from Umfolosi Drift.[1] It has not been revised and is known only from the female sex.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b 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): 11.
  2. ^ "Theuma zuluensis Lawrence, 1947". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i 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. 40. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515818. Retrieved 24 September 2025. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.