| Hunchback Palfuria zodariid | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Palfuria |
| Species: | P. caputlari |
| Binomial name | |
| Palfuria caputlari Szűts & Jocqué, 2001 [1] | |
Palfuria caputlari is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae. [2] It is found in Tanzania and South Africa and is commonly known as the Hunchback Palfuria zodariid. [3]
The epithet is composed of two Latin nouns: caput = "head" and lari from larus = "gull". It refers to the shape of the median apophysis as seen from the side.
Palfuria caputlari has been recorded from Tanzania and the Limpopo province of South Africa, including localities in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve and Nwanedi Game Reserve. [3]
The species is a very small ground dweller that inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 622 to 763 metres above sea level. It has been collected using pitfall traps. [3]
Palfuria caputlari is easily recognized by the strongly elevated cephalic part of the carapace and the presence of dorsolateral circumferential folds on the opisthosoma. [1]
Males have a total length of 2.24 mm while females measure 2.44 mm. The carapace is medium to dark brown with some darker striae in the thoracic area and a dark brown cephalic lobe with paler spots. Legs are paler, with coxae being pale yellow and femora dark brown. The opisthosoma has a dark sepia dorsum with yellow folds contrasting with the pale yellow venter. [3] [1]
The species is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range in Africa. It is protected in Nwanedi Game Reserve. [3]
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.