Isicabu zuluensis

Tailed Tree Sheet-Web Spider
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Cyatholipidae
Genus:	Isicabu
Species:	I. zuluensis
Binomial name
Isicabu zuluensis Griswold, 1987 [1]

Isicabu zuluensis is a species of spider in the family Cyatholipidae. It is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. ^{[2] [3]}

Distribution

Isicabu zuluensis is known from four locations in KwaZulu-Natal: Dukuduku Forest Station, Ngome State Forest, Town Bush Forest near Pietermaritzburg, and Richards Bay. The species occurs at elevations between 61 and 1155 metres above sea level. ^[3]

Habitat

The species builds small horizontal sheet webs in the understory of moist forests. It occurs in Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, and Savanna biomes and has also been found in pine plantations. ^[3]

Etymology

The species epithet zuluensis refers to Zululand (the historical name for northern KwaZulu-Natal), where the species was discovered. ^[1]

Conservation

The species is protected in two areas but is threatened by ongoing habitat loss due to crop cultivation throughout much of its range. It is listed as Vulnerable. ^[3]

References

1. Griswold, C.E. (1987). "A review of the southern African spiders of the family Cyatholipidae Simon, 1894 (Araneae: Araneomorphae)". Annals of the Natal Museum. 28: 499–542.
2. "Isicabu zuluensis Griswold, 1987". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
3. Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Cyatholipidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. Irene. pp. 1–27. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6759933.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.