Microstigmata lawrencei

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Lawrence's Micro-mygalomorph Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Mygalomorphae
Family: Microstigmatidae
Genus: Microstigmata
Species:
M. lawrencei
Binomial name
Microstigmata lawrencei
Griswold, 1985 [1]

Microstigmata lawrencei is a species of spider in the family Microstigmatidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Lawrence's micro-mygalomorph spider. [3]

Contents

Etymology

The species is named in honor of Reginald Frederick Lawrence, a South African arachnologist who made significant contributions to the study of South African spiders. [3]

Distribution

Microstigmata lawrencei is endemic to South Africa, with a limited distribution in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal provinces. The species is known from two collection localities. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a ground-dwelling spider that appears to be restricted to conditions of high humidity and relatively even temperature as found in the understory and litter layer of indigenous forest and close-canopy bush. It has been sampled from the Forest biome at altitudes ranging from 776 to 1,573 m above sea level. [3]

Description

Microstigmata lawrencei is known only from the female. [3]

Conservation

Microstigmata lawrencei is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The species is presently known only from two collection localities and the male remains unknown. The species is threatened by loss of habitat due to crop farming between Franklin and Riverside. More sampling is needed to collect the male and to determine the species' range. [3]

Taxonomy

Microstigmata lawrencei was described by Griswold in 1985 from specimens collected in the Kambi Forest in the Eastern Cape. [3]

References

  1. Griswold, C.E. (1985). "A revision of the African spiders of the family Microstigmatidae (Araneae: Mygalomorphae)". Annals of the Natal Museum. 27: 1–37.
  2. "Microstigmata lawrencei Griswold, 1985". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Microstigmatidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 7. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6735731 . Retrieved 23 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.