Idiops kentanicus

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Kentani Idiops 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: Idiops
Species:
I. kentanicus
Binomial name
Idiops kentanicus
(Purcell, 1903) [1]
Synonyms
  • Acanthodon kentanicusPurcell, 1903
  • Ctenolophus kentanicusPurcell, 1904

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

Contents

Distribution

Idiops kentanicus is an Eastern Cape endemic known only from the type locality Kentani at an altitude of 485 m above sea level. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Thicket biome. It lives in silk-lined burrows closed with a trapdoor. The female was collected from open ground under an Acacia tree. The burrow is only 45 mm deep and perfectly straight, wider below but becoming narrower near the opening, which is slightly oval. The lid is flat but not flexible, with the upper side very rough and uneven and the lower side smooth, flat and lined with white silk. The edge of the lid closes against the outspread rim of the tube-lining. [3]

Description

Idiops kentanicus is known from both sexes. The body is pale greenish ochraceus. Total length is 18 mm. [3]

Conservation

Idiops kentanicus is listed as Data Deficient due to insufficient knowledge about its distribution and threats. More sampling is needed. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by William Frederick Purcell in 1903 as Acanthodon kentanicus from Kentani. The species has not been revised. [3]

References

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ "Idiops kentanicus (Purcell, 1903)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  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. 44. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324502 . Retrieved 23 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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