Scytodes fusca

Scytodes fusca
Female
Male
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Scytodidae
Genus:	Scytodes
Species:	S. fusca
Binomial name
Scytodes fusca Walckenaer, 1837 [1]
Synonyms
Scytodes domesticaDoleschall, 1859 Scytodes guianensisTaczanowski, 1872 Scytodes vittataKeyserling, 1877 Dictis fumidaThorell, 1891 Scytodes hebraicaSimon, 1892 Scytodes bajulaSimon, 1892 Scytodes campinensisMello-Leitão, 1918 Scytodes discolorMello-Leitão, 1918 Scytodes iguassuensisMello-Leitão, 1918 Scytodes nannipesChamberlin & Ivie, 1936 Scytodes torquatusKraus, 1955

Scytodes fusca is a species of spider in the family Scytodidae. ^[2] It is commonly known as the dark common spitting spider and is a cosmopolitan species that has been introduced to numerous regions worldwide. ^[3]

Distribution

Scytodes fusca is a cosmopolitan species described by Walckenaer in 1837. Originally from Central and southern America, it has been introduced St. Helena, Europe, Africa, Seychelles, India, Myanmar, Indonesia, China, Japan, and Hawaii. ^[2]

In South Africa, it is recorded from six provinces and is found at elevations ranging from 16 to 1,618 m above sea level. ^[3]

Habitat and ecology

This is a species frequently found in houses. They are nocturnal cursorial spiders and have a specialized way of catching prey. In South Africa, the species has been sampled from the Fynbos, Grassland, Nama Karoo, Savanna, and Thicket biomes. ^[3]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

• 
  missing legs
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  female with egg sac

Conservation

Scytodes fusca is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in Karoo National Park and Kruger National Park. ^[3]

Taxonomy

This is an introduced cosmopolitan species known from both sexes, which have been illustrated. ^[3]

References

1. Walckenaer, C.A. (1837). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Aptères. Tome premier. Paris: Roret. p. 272.
2. "Scytodes fusca Walckenaer, 1837". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
3. Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Booysen, R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Scytodidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 16. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7157802.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.