Scytodes leipoldti

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Clanwilliam Spitting Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Scytodidae
Genus: Scytodes
Species:
S. leipoldti
Binomial name
Scytodes leipoldti
Purcell, 1904 [1]

Scytodes leipoldti is a species of spider in the family Scytodidae. [2] It is commonly known as the Clanwilliam spitting spider and is endemic to South Africa. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Scytodes leipoldti is recorded from two provinces in South Africa: the Northern Cape and Western Cape. It has been found at Namaqua National Park and Clanwilliam. The species is found at elevations ranging from 78 to 199 m above sea level. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Scytodes leipoldti are wandering spiders commonly collected from under stones and in dark places on the soil surface in the Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes. [3]

Description

The carapace has two narrow curved stripes on each side of the yellow median stripe. [3]

Conservation

Scytodes leipoldti is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The status of the species remains obscure. Threats to the species are unknown. More sampling is needed to collect the male and to determine the species' range. [3]

Taxonomy

The species has not been revised and is known only from a female. A male has been collected but needs to be described. [3]

References

  1. Purcell, W.F. (1904). "Descriptions of new genera and species of South African spiders". Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 15: 143. doi:10.1080/21560382.1904.9526488.
  2. "Scytodes leipoldti Purcell, 1904". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. 21. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7157802. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.