Heradida speculigera

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Cederberg's Heradida Ground Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Zodariidae
Genus: Heradida
Species:
H. speculigera
Binomial name
Heradida speculigera
Jocqué, 1987 [1]

Heradida speculigera is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae. [2] It is endemic to the Western Cape province of South Africa and is commonly known as Cederberg's Heradida ground spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Heradida speculigera is found exclusively in the Western Cape province of South Africa. It has been recorded from multiple localities including Bontebok National Park, Table Mountain National Park, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, and extensively throughout the Cederberg Wilderness Area. [3]

Habitat

The species primarily inhabits the Fynbos biome at altitudes ranging from 9 to 1850 m above sea level. It is a ground-dwelling species typically found running on soil surfaces and has been extensively sampled using pitfall traps during long-term surveys in the Cederberg region. [3]

Description

Heradida speculigera is known only from females. Females have a total length of 2 mm. The carapace is dark brown with darker striae. Legs are yellow. The opisthosoma features a dark sepia dorsal scutum, with pale sides and venter that becomes brownish between the sclerotized areas in front of the spinnerets. [3] [1]

Conservation

The species is listed as Data Deficient. Although it was abundant in the Cederberg Wilderness Area where originally described, it is known only from females from a relatively small area. It receives protection in several reserves including Bontebok National Park, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and Table Mountain National Park. More sampling is needed to collect male specimens and determine the species' full range. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Jocqué, R. (1987). "Descriptions of new genera and species of African Zodariinae with a revision of the genus Heradida". Revue Zoologique Africaine. 101: 147.
  2. "Heradida speculigera Jocqué, 1987". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 2 (H-T) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 8. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14568995 . Retrieved 20 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.