Gorgyrella schreineri

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Common Gorgyrella Trapdoor Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Idiopidae
Genus: Gorgyrella
Species:
G. schreineri
Binomial name
Gorgyrella schreineri
Purcell, 1903 [1]

Gorgyrella schreineri is a species of spider in the family Idiopidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the common Gorgyrella trapdoor spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Gorgyrella schreineri is found in South Africa, [2] where it is known from the provinces Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. [3]

Notable locations include Hanover, Bloemfontein, Pretoria, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, De Aar, Kimberley, Prieska, Karoo National Park, and Worcester. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Gorgyrella schreineri lives in silk-lined burrows made in the soil. Description of the burrow and egg sac were provided by Purcell in 1903. The species is sampled from the Fynbos, Grassland, and Nama Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 242 to 1402 m above sea level. It has also been sampled from pistachio orchards. [3]

Description

The species is known only from females. The carapace and limbs are pale ochraceous with the chelicerae yellowish brown. The abdomen is dirty pale yellowish without spots. The coxae of the pedipalpi and the labium are reddish brown. Total length is 30 mm. [1]

Conservation

Gorgyrella schreineri is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in the Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Fort Brown Kudu Reserve, and Karoo National Park. [3]

Taxonomy

Gorgyrella schreineri was described by W. F. Purcell in 1903 from Hanover in the Northern Cape. Hewitt described a subspecies Gorgyrella schreineri minor in 1916, which is here listed under G. schreineri until more data become available. The species has not been revised and is known only from females. [1] [4] [3]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Purcell, W.F. (1903). "New Arachnida collected by Mr. S. C. Cronwright Schreiner at Hanover, Cape Colony". Annals of the South African Museum. 3: 13–42.
  2. 1 2 "Gorgyrella schreineri Purcell, 1903". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Idiopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 28. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324502. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
  4. ↑ Hewitt, J. (1916). "Descriptions of new South African spiders". Annals of the Transvaal Museum. 5: 180–213.
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