Xerophaeus lunulifer
| Umhlali Mouse Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Xerophaeus |
| Species: | X. lunulifer
|
| Binomial name | |
| Xerophaeus lunulifer | |
Xerophaeus lunulifer is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Umhlali mouse ground spider.[3]
Distribution
Xerophaeus lunulifer is recorded from four South African provinces: the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Western Cape.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits multiple biomes including Fynbos, Savanna, and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 9 to 1534 m above sea level. Xerophaeus lunulifer are free-living ground dwellers.[3]
Description
Conservation
Xerophaeus lunulifer is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. The species is protected in False Bay Nature Reserve, Table Mountain National Park, and Hluhluwe Nature Reserve. There are no significant threats.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Umhlali, KwaZulu-Natal. The species has not been revised but is known from both sexes.[3]
References
- ^ 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. 20 (118): 297–336. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
- ^ "Xerophaeus lunulifer Purcell, 1907". World Spider Catalog.
- ^ a b c d e Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 3 (T-X). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 50. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.