| Dendron termite feeding spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Gnaphosidae |
| Genus: | Ammoxenus |
| Species: | A. daedalus |
| Binomial name | |
| Ammoxenus daedalus Dippenaar & Meyer, 1980 | |
Ammoxenus daedalus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. It is endemic to Limpopo province, South Africa, where it is known as the Dendron termite feeding spider. [1] [2]
The species name daedalus likely refers to Daedalus from Greek mythology. [3]
A. daedalus is presently known only from two localities in Limpopo province, South Africa: near Dendron and at Louis Trichardt. The species has a very restricted range and is found at elevations between 969 and 1,025 meters above sea level. [2]
This free-running ground spider lives in sand mounds left by termites and is a specialist predator of harvester termites, particularly Hodotermes species. When disturbed, individuals dive head-first into sand. The species was sampled in high numbers (over 400 specimens) from pitfall traps on a farm near Dendron in the Savanna biome. [2]
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A. daedalus exhibits the characteristic Ammoxenus morphology. [2]
The species is currently listed as Data Deficient due to its extremely limited known range and uncertainty about its taxonomic status. Bird (2003) suggested that A. daedalus may be a junior synonym of Ammoxenus psammodromus , but this revision remains unpublished. The species is not currently recorded from any protected areas, and more sampling is needed to determine its conservation status. [2]