Philoponella operosa

Cape Hackled Orb-Web Spider
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Uloboridae
Genus:	Philoponella
Species:	P. operosa
Binomial name
	Philoponella operosa; (Simon, 1897)
Synonyms
	Uloborus operosusSimon, 1897 ;

Last updated October 13, 2025

Philoponella operosa is a species of spider in the family Uloboridae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Cape hackled orb-web spider.^[3]

Distribution

Philoponella operosa is found only in South Africa,^[2] where it has been recorded from Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

The habitat and ecology of this species are unknown.^[3]

Description

Conservation

Philoponella operosa is listed as Data Deficient by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to unknown provenance and taxonomic reasons. More sampling is needed to collect males and to determine the species range.^[3]

Taxonomy

Philoponella operosa was originally described by Eugène Simon in 1897 as Uloborus operosus with the type locality given only as "Colonie du Cap". The status of the species remains obscure. The species has not been revised and is known only from females, which have not been illustrated.^[3]

References

↑ Simon, E. (1897). "Arachnides recueillis par M. Arnold Penther dans l'Afrique australe". Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France. 21 (9): 220–223.
1 2 3 "Philoponella operosa (Simon, 1897)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Uloboridae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 16. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162209. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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[simon1897-1] Simon, E. (1897). "Arachnides recueillis par M. Arnold Penther dans l'Afrique australe". Bulletin de la Société Zoologique de France. 21 (9): 220–223.

[wsc-2] 1 2 3 "Philoponella operosa (Simon, 1897)". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.

[dippenaar2020-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Uloboridae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 16. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162209. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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