Trichonephila senegalensis

Banded-legged Golden Orb-Web Spider
Female
Female
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Nephilidae
Genus: Trichonephila
Species:
T. senegalensis
Binomial name
Trichonephila senegalensis
(Walckenaer, 1841)

Trichonephila senegalensis is a species of spider in the family Araneidae.[1] It is an African endemic commonly known as the banded-legged golden orb-web spider.[2]

Distribution

T. senegalensis is found from West Africa to Ethiopia.[1]

The subspecies Trichonephila senegalensis annulata[3] is widespread throughout Africa.[1] In South Africa, it is commonly found throughout the country in all nine provinces and occurs in more than 10 protected areas.[2]

Habitat and ecology

See also: Glossary of spider terms

In South Africa, the species inhabits altitudes ranging from 16 to 1,864 m above sea level and has been sampled from all biomes except the Desert and Succulent Karoo biomes.[2] Trichonephila senegalensis builds large (1-1.5 m in diameter) orb webs with a yellowish golden viscid spiral.[2]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms
  • female
  • female
  • female
  • female

Conservation

Trichonephila senegalensis annulata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range.[2] The species is protected in more than 20 protected areas.[2]

Taxonomy

The species is known from both sexes.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Trichonephila senegalensis". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N.; Webb, P. (2022). The Araneidae of South Africa. Version 2: part 3 (Ne-U). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. pp. 63–64. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6326991. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  3. ^ Thorell, T. (1859). "Nya exotiska Epeirider". Öfversigt af Kongliga Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhandlingar. 16.
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