Estcourt Anyphops Flat Spider | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
Class: | Arachnida |
Order: | Araneae |
Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
Family: | Selenopidae |
Genus: | Anyphops |
Species: | A. marshalli |
Binomial name | |
Anyphops marshalli (Pocock, 1902) [1] |
Anyphops marshalli is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Estcourt Anyphops flat spider.
Anyphops marshalli occurs in three South African provinces, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape. It has been recorded from Grahamstown, East London Pineapple Research Station, and Port Alfred in the Eastern Cape; Durban, Estcourt, Pinetown, and Kloof in KwaZulu-Natal; and Diepwalle Forest Station in the Western Cape at altitudes ranging from 17 to 1,189 m above sea level. [3]
The species inhabits the Grassland, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, and Savanna biomes and is a free-living cryptozoic nocturnal ground-dwelling spider. It has also been sampled from houses. [3]
Only the male is known. The integument is ochre-brown, covered with a mixture of golden-yellow and blackish hairs. The legs have blackish bands. The anterior tibiae have 7 pairs of inferior spines. Total length is 11 mm. [3]
Anyphops marshalli is listed as Least Concern. Although the species is presently known only from one sex, it has a wide geographical range and is protected in Diepwalle Forest Station. [3]