| Drakensberg Igloo spider | |
|---|---|
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| Male | |
 | |
| Male | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Diores |
| Species: | D. pauper |
| Binomial name | |
| Diores pauper Jocqué, 1990 [1] | |
Diores pauper is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Drakensberg Igloo spider. [3]
Diores pauper has been recorded from three provinces in South Africa: the Eastern Cape, Free State, and KwaZulu-Natal. The species was originally described from Cathedral Peak Forest Station in KwaZulu-Natal. [3]
The species inhabits the Grassland, Fynbos, and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 488 to 1646 metres above sea level. [3]
Diores pauper is one of the smallest species in the genus Diores . Males have a total length of 2.32 mm, while females measure 2.72 mm. The carapace is orange with a dark spot in front of the fovea and five striae. The chelicerae and legs are yellowish-orange, and the sternum is yellow. [1]
Males have a sepia dorsum on the opisthosoma with a slightly darker scutum in the anterior half and three pale spots united in a line in front of the spinnerets. Females have similar coloration but the dorsum of the abdomen is uniform sepia with only one small pale patch in front of the spinnerets. [1]
Diores pauper are free-living ground-dwellers that construct igloo-shaped retreats with small stones, characteristic behavior of the genus Diores . [3]
The species is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographic range. It is protected in Addo Elephant National Park. [3]
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.