| St Lucia Anyphops Flat Spider | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Female | |
 | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Selenopidae |
| Genus: | Anyphops |
| Species: | A. lucia |
| Binomial name | |
| Anyphops lucia | |
Anyphops lucia is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the St Lucia Anyphops flat spider.
Anyphops lucia is endemic to the South African KwaZulu-Natal Province. It has been recorded from iSimangaliso Wetland Park at St. Lucia (Fanie's Camp) and Umhlanga at an altitude of 5 m above sea level. [3]
The species inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt biome and is a free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground-dwelling spider. [3]
Only the female is known. The carapace is red brown with lateral dark grey irregular markings reaching to the lateral edges. The chelicerae are red-brown with a wide longitudinal inner dark brown band. [3]
The legs are orange-brown, mottled dark grey, with patellae II and IV having a dark basal band and femur IV having a prolateral and longitudinal pale line limited by grey parallel lines. Metatarsus IV has a dark terminal spot. [3]
The dorsum of the abdomen is whitish, dotted by grey irregular spots, with lateral and posterior portions darker. The venter is pale yellow-grey. The anterior tibiae have 6 pairs of inferior spines. Total length is 7.73 mm. [3]
Anyphops lucia is listed as Data Deficient due to taxonomic reasons. The species has a very small known range and more sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' full range. It receives some protection within iSimangaliso Wetland Park. [3]
The species is named after St. Lucia, the type locality where it was first collected.
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