Proevippa lightfooti

Bushy-leg Proevippa wolf spider
	male
	male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Lycosidae
Genus:	Proevippa
Species:	P. lightfooti
Binomial name
	Proevippa lightfooti; Purcell, 1903

Last updated November 05, 2025

Proevippa lightfooti is a species of spider in the family Lycosidae.^[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the bushy-leg Proevippa wolf spider.^[3]

Distribution

Proevippa lightfooti is only found in South Africa.^[2] It is endemic to the Western Cape province. Localities include Muizenberg, Bergvliet, Caledon, Kalkbay, Maitland Flats, Table Mountain National Park, Tulbagh, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, Bontebok National Park, and Cederberg Wilderness Area.^[3]

Habitat and ecology

Proevippa lightfooti is a free-running ground dwelling spider found in the Fynbos biome at altitudes ranging from 6 to 1,850 m.^[3]

Description

Conservation

Proevippa lightfooti is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range within the Western Cape. There are no known threats to the species and it is protected in Table Mountain National Park, Bontebok National Park, and Cederberg Wilderness Area.^[3]

Taxonomy

Proevippa lightfooti was described by Purcell in 1903 from Muizenberg. The species was transferred to Chaleposa by Russell-Smith in 1981. Alderweireldt and Jocqué described the female in 1995 and redescribed the male. The species is known from both sexes.^[3]

References

↑ Purcell, W.F. (1903). "New South African spiders of the families Migidae, Ctenizidae, Barychelidae Dipluridae, and Lycosidae". Annals of the South African Museum. 3: 69–142.
1 2 "Proevippa lightfooti Purcell, 1903". 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. (2021). The Lycosidae of South Africa. Version 1: part 2 (L-Z). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 42. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324723. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

External links

Citizen science observations for Proevippa lightfooti at iNaturalist

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[purcell1903-1] Purcell, W.F. (1903). "New South African spiders of the families Migidae, Ctenizidae, Barychelidae Dipluridae, and Lycosidae". Annals of the South African Museum. 3: 69–142.

[wsc-2] 1 2 "Proevippa lightfooti Purcell, 1903". World Spider Catalog. Natural History Museum Bern. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-10-01.

[dippenaar2021-3] 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Lycosidae of South Africa. Version 1: part 2 (L-Z). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 42. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6324723. This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.

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