Ctenus caligineus

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Zaire Tropical Wolf Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Ctenidae
Genus: Ctenus
Species:
C. caligineus
Binomial name
Ctenus caligineus
Arts, 1912 [1]
Synonyms
  • Anahita kiwuensis Strand, 1916

Ctenus caligineus is a species of spider in the family Ctenidae. [2] It is found in central and southern Africa and is commonly known as the Zaire tropical wolf spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Ctenus caligineus is found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and South Africa. [2] In South Africa, the species has been recorded from Limpopo province, including the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a free-running ground dweller known from the Savanna biome, at altitudes ranging from 574 to 1,002 m above sea level. [3]

Description

Ctenus caligineus is known from both sexes. It belongs to the genus Ctenus , which is characterized by strong and stout legs with spines, anterior tibiae with 3–6 pairs of ventral spines, and tarsi with two claws. [3]

Conservation

Ctenus caligineus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species receives some protection in the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by L. des Arts in 1912 from Zaïre. It was later revised by Pierre Benoit in 1977, who synonymized Anahita kiwuensisStrand, 1916 with this species. [4]

References

  1. ↑ Arts, L. des (1912). "Zusammenstellung der afrikanischen Arten der Gattung Ctenus". Jahrbuch der Hamburgischen Wissenschaftlichen Anstalten. 29 (2): 183–218.
  2. 1 2 "Ctenus caligineus Arts, 1912". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 21 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Ctenidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 9. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6090166 . Retrieved 21 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. ↑ Benoit, P.L.G. (1977). "Etudes sur les Ctenidae africains (Araneae) III. Le remembrement du genre Anahita Karsch 1879". Revue Zoologique Africaine. 91 (2): 368–380.
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