Pherecydes lucinae

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Pherecydes lucinae
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Thomisidae
Genus: Pherecydes
Species:
P. lucinae
Binomial name
Pherecydes lucinae

Pherecydes lucinae is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Pherecydes lucinae is found in South Africa, [2] where it is known from the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and North West. [3] Notable locations include Dassiekrans, Grahamstown, Pietermaritzburg, Pongola, Nylsvley Nature Reserve, and Rustenburg Nature Reserve. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Pherecydes lucinae inhabits the Grassland, Savanna, and Thicket biomes at altitudes ranging from 271 to 1556 m. [3]

These tree and grass dwellers have been sampled from Lucerne fields and pine plantations. [3]

Description

Conservation

Pherecydes lucinae is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is recorded in three reserves including Nylsvley, Blouberg, and Rustenburg. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Dippenaar-Schoeman in 1980 from Farm Vergeval, Pongola, KwaZulu-Natal. [1] Both sexes are known. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S. (1980). "The crab-spiders of southern Africa (Araneae: Thomisidae). 2. The genera Pherecydes Pickard-Cambridge, 1883 and Smodicinus Simon, 1895". Journal of the Entomological Society of South Africa. 43: 327–340.
  2. 1 2 "Pherecydes lucinae Dippenaar-Schoeman, 1980". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern: World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Thomisidae of South Africa. Part 2 My-R. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 38. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7513276. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.