Eleleis limpopo

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Limpopo Eleleis Ground Spider
Eleleis limpopo 308353727 556306611.jpg
Female
Eleleis limpopo 309654797 558803475.jpg
Male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Prodidomidae
Genus: Eleleis
Species:
E. limpopo
Binomial name
Eleleis limpopo
Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020 [1]

Eleleis limpopo is a species of spider in the family Prodidomidae. [2] It occurs in South Africa and Zambia and is commonly known as the Limpopo Eleleis ground spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Eleleis limpopo is found in South Africa and Zambia. [3] In South Africa, it is recorded from Gauteng, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga provinces. Notable locations include Irene Gem Village Field, Groenkloof Nature Reserve, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, and Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng; Tuinplaas on the Springbokvlakte and Little Leigh in the Western Soutpansberg in Limpopo; and Marble Hall in Mpumalanga. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Eleleis limpopo are free-running ground dwellers sampled from the Grassland and Savanna biomes. [3]

As part of the Gauteng Grassland Project, the species has been sampled annually since 2012 from grasslands around Pretoria, in Irene, and the Groenkloof Nature Reserve. They are often found under rocks and immediately move around to try to get under the rock again when disturbed. In Irene they were always associated with small red ants running between them. On the Springbok Flats, a large number of specimens were sampled from pitfall traps over a period of a year. [3]

The males were sampled from September, October to November as well as in June and July. The females were sampled mainly in October. In Irene the species was photographed on 10 occasions with males mainly during June and July and females in April. They were found under rocks always associated with small red ants running between them. [3]

Description

Eleleis limpopo is known from both sexes. IT differs from other species of the genus by the strong brown coloration of the carapace and legs. [3]

Conservation

Eleleis limpopo is listed as Least Concern due to its wide range. [3] No known threats have been identified, and the species is protected in the Groenkloof Nature Reserve and Ezemvelo Nature Reserve. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was described by Rodrigues & Rheims in 2020 from Tuinplaas, Springbokvlakte. [1] It is known from both sexes. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Rodrigues, B.V.B.; Rheims, C.A. (2020). "An overview of the African genera of Prodidominae spiders: descriptions and remarks (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)". Zootaxa. 4799 (1): 1–80. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.4799.1.1.
  2. ↑ "Eleleis limpopo Rodrigues & Rheims, 2020". 26. World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Prodidomidae of South Africa. 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. pp. 1–42. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7515818 . Retrieved 24 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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