Pachygnatha zappa

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Zappa Orb-web Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Tetragnathidae
Genus: Pachygnatha
Species:
P. zappa
Binomial name
Pachygnatha zappa
Bosmans & Bosselaers, 1994 [1]

Pachygnatha zappa is a spider named after musician Frank Zappa because of its unique markings which resemble his famous moustache.

Contents

Belgian biologists Robert Bosmans and Jan Bosselaers, from the Rijksuniversiteit Gent organized two expeditions to Mount Cameroon and neighbouring ranges. In 1994 (in Zoologica Scripta , Vol. 23, No. 4, pages 325–352) they introduced the species they named Pachygnatha zappa.

Distribution

Pachygnatha zappa is known from Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, and South Africa. [2]

In South Africa, the species occurs in KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo Province, including locations such as Kamberg Nature Reserve, Kloof, Baynesfield, Polokwane area, Woodbush Forest, and Swartbos Forest. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Zappa (back) with the Mothers, 1968 The Mothers of Invention (1968).jpg
Zappa (back) with the Mothers, 1968

The species has been sampled using sweep nets in the Forest and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 496 to 1732 m. Little is known about their behaviour. [3]

Description

Conservation

Pachygnatha zappa is listed as Least Concern due to its wide geographical range across four African countries. The species is protected in Kamberg Nature Reserve. There are no significant threats to the species. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Bosmans, R.; Bosselaers, J. (1994). "Spiders of the genera Pachygnatha, Dyschiriognatha and Glenognatha (Araneae, Tetragnathidae), with a revision of the Afrotropical species". Zoologica Scripta. 23 (4): 325–352. doi:10.1111/j.1463-6409.1994.tb00392.x.
  2. ↑ "Pachygnatha zappa Bosmans & Bosselaers, 1994". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 1 October 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2023). The Tetragnathidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 32. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7513261. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

See also

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