Euagrus atropurpureus is a species of spider of the genus Euagrus in the family Euagridae. It is endemic to South Africa.[1] The species is known by the common name Prince Albert's sheet-web spider.[2]
Only the female of Euagrus atropurpureus has been described, and male specimens remain unknown.[2]
Etymology
The species name "atropurpureus" derives from Latin, meaning "dark purple", referring to the coloration of the specimen.
Distribution
Euagrus atropurpureus is endemic to the Western Cape Province of South Africa, specifically recorded from Prince Albert.[2] The species has a very restricted distribution at an elevation of 614 metres above sea level.[2]
Euagrus atropurpureus is listed as Data Deficient due to taxonomic uncertainty. The conservation status reflects the need for additional sampling to collect male specimens and better determine the species' range.[2]
Taxonomy
The species was first described by W. F. Purcell in 1903 from specimens collected at Prince Albert.[3] However, the taxonomic status of E. atropurpureus has been questioned. Coyle (1984) noted that this species is misplaced and belongs neither to Euagrus nor to Allothele.[4] The holotype is a female specimen (probably not adult) that was deposited at the Iziko South African Museum in Cape Town, but is presumed lost.[4]
The genus Euagrus was transferred from the family Dipluridae to Euagridae by Opatova et al. in 2020.[1]
1 2 3 4 5 6 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide: The Euagridae of South Africa version 2. pp.1–12.
↑ Purcell, W.F. (1903). "New South African spiders of the families Migidae, Ctenizidae, Barychelidae Dipluridae, and Lycosidae". Annals of the South African Museum. 3: 69–142.
1 2 Coyle, F.A. (1984). "A revision of the African mygalomorph spider genus Allothele (Araneae, Dipluridae)". American Museum Novitates. 2794: 1–20.
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