| Nkandla Anyphops Flat Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Selenopidae |
| Genus: | Anyphops |
| Species: | A. lycosiformis |
| Binomial name | |
| Anyphops lycosiformis (Lawrence, 1937) [1] | |
Anyphops lycosiformis is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Nkandla Anyphops flat spider.
Anyphops lycosiformis occurs in two South African provinces: KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo. It has been recorded from Ngome State Forest and Nkandla Forest in KwaZulu-Natal, and Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve in Limpopo at altitudes ranging from 687 to 1,129 m above sea level. [3]
The species inhabits the Forest and Savanna biomes and is a free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground-dwelling spider. [3]
Only the female is known. The carapace is orange-brown with a light middle central area. The chelicerae are orange-brown with dark marking in the distal portion. The legs are pale orange-yellow with markings consisting of three incomplete rings on the femora and two on the tibiae, while the metatarsi and tarsi are pale yellowish. [3]
The dorsum of the abdomen is pale brown with a light yellowish central area, and the venter is light yellow. The anterior tibiae have 4 pairs of inferior spines. Total length is 7.70 mm. [3]
Anyphops lycosiformis is listed as Least Concern. Although only known from one sex, the species has a wide distribution and occurs in protected areas where it is not threatened. [3]
The species was originally described by Lawrence (1937) as Selenops lycosiformis from Nkandla Forest in KwaZulu-Natal. It was revised by Corronca (2005). [3]
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.