Heliophanus pygmaeus is a species of jumping spider in the family Salticidae.[2] It is found in several African countries and is commonly known as the pygmy Heliophanus sunny jumping spider.[3]
This quick-moving, tiny, beetle-like spider has been sampled from vegetation and grass tussocks in the SavannaBiome at altitudes ranging from 91 to 904 m.[3]
Both sexes of this species are known.[4] The species is small and beetle-like in appearance.[3]
Conservation
Heliophanus pygmaeus is listed as of Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. There are no known threats to the species. In South Africa, it is protected in four protected areas: Atherstone Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Ndumo Game Reserve and Tembe Elephant Park.[3]
Taxonomy
Heliophanus pygmaeus was described by Wesołowska and Russell-Smith in 2000 from a male from Tanzania.[1] Additional notes were added by Wesołowska in 2004 and by Wesołowska and Cumming in 2008.[4]
References
1 2 Wesołowska, W.; Russell-Smith, A. (2000). "Jumping spiders from Mkomazi Game Reserve in Tanzania (Araneae Salticidae)". Tropical Zoology. 13 (1): 11–127. doi:10.1080/03946975.2000.10531126.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Walt, V. van der; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2025). The Salticidae of South Africa. Part 3 (He-Iran). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p.42. doi:10.5281/zenodo.17103454.This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
1 2 Wesołowska, W. (2004). "A redescription of Heliophanus pygmaeus Wesolowska et Russell-Smith, 2000, a small beetle-like salticid from Africa (Araneae: Salticidae)". Genus. 15: 275–280.
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