Dendryphantes rafalskii

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Rafalski's Dendryphantes Jumping Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Salticidae
Subfamily: Salticinae
Genus: Dendryphantes
Species:
D. rafalskii
Binomial name
Dendryphantes rafalskii
Wesołowska, 2000 [1]

Dendryphantes rafalskii is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae. [2] It is endemic to southern Africa and is commonly known as Rafalski's Dendryphantes jumping spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Dendryphantes rafalskii is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. [2]

In South Africa, it has been sampled from Free State and Gauteng provinces. Known locations include Bloemfontein National Botanical Gardens and Pretoria/Tshwane. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Dendryphantes rafalskii inhabits the Grassland Biome at altitudes ranging from 1,385 to 1,520 m. Specimens have been collected by beating the foliage of shrubs. Large numbers of juveniles with distinctive abdominal markings were also collected by fogging Olea europaea trees at the Free State National Botanical Gardens during February. [3]

Description

Conservation

Dendryphantes rafalskii is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. There are no significant threats to the species. [3]

Etymology

The species is named after Polish arachnologist Jan Rafalski (1909-1995).

Taxonomy

Dendryphantes rafalskii was originally described by Wanda Wesołowska in 2000 from Zimbabwe. Both sexes are known. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Wesołowska, W. (2000). "New and little known species of jumping spiders from Zimbabwe (Araneae: Salticidae)". Arnoldia Zimbabwe. 10: 145–174.
  2. 1 2 "Dendryphantes rafalskii Wesołowska, 2000". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern: World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Van der Walt, V.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-Den). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 58. doi:10.5281/zenodo.15222559. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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