| Cape Geolycosa wolf spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Lycosidae |
| Genus: | Geolycosa |
| Species: | G. subvittata |
| Binomial name | |
| Geolycosa subvittata (Pocock, 1900) | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Geolycosa subvittata is a species of spider in the family Lycosidae. [1] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Cape Geolycosa wolf spider. [2]
Geolycosa subvittata is found in the Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces of South Africa. [2] Notable locations include Grahamstown (now Makhanda), Port Elizabeth, Table Mountain National Park, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and several other sites in the Cape region. [2]
This species is a ground dweller known to live in burrows. [2]
It has been sampled from the Fynbos and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 5 to 552 m. [2]
Known from both sexes, Geolycosa subvittata is smaller than the related G. hectoria but has a similar dorsal color pattern. It has two yellow stripes on the abdomen. Ventrally, it bears a median longitudinal black stripe. [3]
The tibiae are not distinctly banded. [3]
Males measure 11 mm in total length, while females measure 14 mm. [3]
The species has a large range and is protected in Table Mountain National Park and Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. [2]
However, most specimens were sampled around 1900, and the species is threatened by loss of habitat. [2]
The species was originally described by Pocock in 1900 as Lycosa subvittata from Port Elizabeth. [3] It was later revised by Roewer in 1959. [4]
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