Namaquarachne thaumatula

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Namaquarachne thaumatula
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Phyxelididae
Genus: Namaquarachne
Species:
N. thaumatula
Binomial name
Namaquarachne thaumatula
Griswold, 1990 [1]
Synonyms
  • Auximus hottentottusPurcell, 1908 (misidentified)
  • Matundua hottentottusLehtinen, 1967 (misidentified)

Namaquarachne thaumatula is a species of spider in the family Phyxelididae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Namaquarachne thaumatula is endemic to the Northern Cape province of South Africa. It is known from two localities, Steinkopf and Gams 60. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species is a ground retreat-web cryptic spider found in the arid Succulent Karoo biome. It has been recorded at elevations ranging from 718 to 870 m above sea level. [3]

Description

Conservation

Namaquarachne thaumatula is listed as Data Deficient by SANBI. The species is known from only two localities, with specimens originally collected in 1904. Mining activities at both sites may pose a threat to the species. More sampling is needed to determine the species range. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Griswold in 1990 from Steinkopf. The species had been previously misidentified as Auximus hottentottus by Purcell in 1908 and as Matundua hottentottus by Pekka Lehtinen in 1967. [3] [2]

References

  1. Griswold, C.E. (1990). "A revision and phylogenetic analysis of the spider subfamily Phyxelidinae (Araneae, Amaurobiidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 196: 104. hdl:2246/5020.
  2. 1 2 "Namaquarachne thaumatula Griswold, 1990". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Phyxelididae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 16. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6813843 . Retrieved 24 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.