Anyphops atomarius

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Eastern Cape Anyphops Flat Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Selenopidae
Genus: Anyphops
Species:
A. atomarius
Binomial name
Anyphops atomarius
(Simon, 1887) [1]
Synonyms
  • Selenops subradiatusStrand, 1906

Anyphops atomarius is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Eastern Cape Anyphops flat spider. [3] This species serves as the type species for the genus Anyphops. [2]

Contents

Distribution

Anyphops atomarius is found in South Africa. [2] The species occurs in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces, including localities such as Grahamstown, Port Elizabeth, Steytlerville, Alicedale, and Cape Town, at altitudes ranging from 7 to 552 m above sea level. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Fynbos and Thicket biomes. [3] These are free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground dwellers. [3]

Description

The species is known from both sexes. [3] The legs have distinct bands. Anterior tibiae have 5 inferior pairs of spines, tibia II has 1 posterior lateral spine in addition, and anterior metatarsi have 3 inferior pairs of spines. Total length is 8 mm. [3]

Conservation

Anyphops atomarius is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographic range. [3] There are no known threats to the species. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1887 as Selenops atomarius from Port Elizabeth. [1] It was transferred to the genus Anyphops by Benoit in 1968 and serves as the type species for the genus. [3] Selenops subradiatusStrand, 1906 was later synonymized with this species by Roewer in 1955. [2]

References

  1. 1 2 Simon, E. (1887). "Espèces et genres nouveaux de la famille des Sparassidae". Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France. 12: 466.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Anyphops atomarius (Simon, 1887)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Selenopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 9. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162139. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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