Zelotes ovambensis
| Ovambo Dark Ground Spider | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Zelotes |
| Species: | Z. ovambensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Zelotes ovambensis Lawrence, 1927[1]
| |
Zelotes ovambensis is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae.[2] It is commonly known as Ovambo dark ground spider and is endemic to southern Africa.[3]
Distribution
Zelotes ovambensis occurs in Namibia and South Africa. In South Africa, the species is known from only one locality in the Northern Cape at Tswalu Game Reserve.[3]
Habitat and ecology
The species inhabits the Savanna biome at an altitude of 1,128 m above sea level. Flat-bellied ground spiders are nocturnal hunters that make silk sacs under stones and surface debris where they live during the day, while moulting and during prolonged periods of inactivity.[3]
Description
Conservation
Zelotes ovambensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range that includes Namibia. In South Africa, the species is protected in the Tswalu Game Reserve. There are no known threats to the species.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was described by Lawrence in 1927 from Namibia and was revised by Fitzpatrick in 2007. It is known only from the female.[3]
References
- ^ Lawrence, R.F. (1927). "Contributions to a knowledge of the fauna of South-West Africa V. Arachnida". Annals of the South African Museum. 25 (1): 1–75.
- ^ "Zelotes ovambensis Lawrence, 1927". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
- ^ 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 4 (Z). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 38. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197783. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.