Diores poweri

Last updated

Power's Igloo Spider
Diores poweri 308128961 555875955.jpg
Female
Diores poweri 308128961 555875827.jpg
Female
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Zodariidae
Genus: Diores
Species:
D. poweri
Binomial name
Diores poweri
Tucker, 1920 [1]

Diores poweri is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae. [2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as Power's Igloo Spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Diores poweri is found in Lesotho and South Africa. [2] In South Africa, it has been recorded from seven provinces, making it one of the most widespread species in the genus. The species was originally described from Kimberley in the Northern Cape. [3]

Habitat

The species inhabits the Grassland, Savanna, and Nama Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 286 to 1780 metres above sea level. [3]

Description

Females of Diores poweri have a total length of 4.50 mm, while males measure 4.08 mm. The carapace, sternum, and legs are yellowish, with the anterior median eyes surrounded by black. The chelicerae are light orange. The opisthosoma has a broad pale stripe on a dark sepia background dorsally, with the sides and venter being pale. Males have similar coloration but with an abdominal scutum. [4]

Ecology

Diores poweri are free-living ground-dwellers that construct the characteristic igloo-shaped retreats typical of the genus Diores . [3]

Conservation

The species is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographical range. It is protected in more than ten protected areas. [3]

References

  1. Tucker, R.W.E. (1920). "Contributions to the South African Arachnid Fauna. II. On some new South African spiders of the families Barychelidae, Dipluridae, Eresidae, Zodariidae, Heracliidae, Urocteidae, Clubionidae". Annals of the South African Museum. 17: 439–488.
  2. 1 2 "Diores poweri Tucker, 1920". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-D) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 73. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920 . Retrieved 20 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. Jocqué, R. (1990). "A revision of the Afrotropical genus Diores (Araneae, Zodariidae)". Annales, Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Sciences zoologiques. 260: 1–81.