Cydrela friedlanderae is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa and is commonly known as Friedlander's Cydrela Burrowing spider.[3]
The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 1172 to 1242 m above sea level in the Savanna and Nama Karoobiomes. The original specimen from De Aar was collected from a burrow in the ground that was closed with a thick circular trapdoor.[3]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2025)
The species is only known from the female.
Female Cydrela friedlanderae have a total length of 13 mm. The carapace, pedipalps, and proximal portions of the legs are black, while the tarsi and metatarsi are rufescent. The sternum is reddish-brown. The opisthosoma is black above and below with distinctive bright yellow markings: a large yellow median spot posteriorly, a fairly large yellow spot laterally at about the middle of the abdomen's length, and a narrow transverse yellow stripe anteriorly.[1]
Ecology
Cydrela friedlanderae is a burrowing species that constructs underground burrows sealed with circular trapdoors, demonstrating specialized fossorial behavior.[3]
Conservation
The species is listed as Data Deficient because the male remains unknown and the species is undersampled. It is protected in Benfontein Nature Reserve, but more sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' true range.[3]
References
1 2 Hewitt, J. (1914). "Descriptions of new Arachnida from South Africa". Records of the Albany Museum Grahamstown. 3: 1–37.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
