Seothyra fasciata

Gordonia Buckspoor Spider
Capture webs of a S. fasciata female
Conservation status
Least Concern  (SANBI Red List)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Subphylum:	Chelicerata
Class:	Arachnida
Order:	Araneae
Infraorder:	Araneomorphae
Family:	Eresidae
Genus:	Seothyra
Species:	S. fasciata
Binomial name
Seothyra fasciata Purcell, 1904
Range records for South Africa

Seothyra fasciata is a sand-dwelling species of Eresidae. It is found in Namibia, Botswana, and South Africa, where it is commonly known as the Gordonia Buckspoor Spider. ^[1]

Distribution

Seothyra fasciata occurs in three Southern African countries: sandy regions of southern Namibia ^[2] , Botswana, and northern South Africa. ^[3] In South Africa, the species is recorded from two provinces: Limpopo and Northern Cape. ^[1]

Notable locations include Augrabies National Park, Benfontein Game Reserve, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Mosdene Nature Reserve, Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, and Witsand Nature Reserve. ^[1]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Succulent Karoo, Savanna, and Nama Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 540 to 1,197 m above sea level. ^[1]

Seothyra fasciata constructs distinctive burrow retreat-webs consisting of a silk-lined burrow. The entrance is covered with a lobed silk flap that serves as a signal web, with the upper part covered in sand to resemble a hoofprint or buck spoor in the sand. ^[1]

Description

See also: Glossary of spider terms

Seothyra fasciata is known from both sexes. ^[1]

Conservation

Seothyra fasciata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. It is protected in six protected areas and faces no significant threats. ^[1]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by William Frederick Purcell in 1904. It was revised by Dippenaar-Schoeman in 1991. ^[1]

References

1. Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Eresidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 32. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6331366 . Retrieved 22 September 2025.  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
2. Irish, J. "Genus Seothyra Purcell 1903 in Namibia". Namibia Biodiversity Database. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
3. "Seothyra fasciata Purcell, 1904". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 22 September 2025.

• Dippenaar-Schoeman A. S. Foord S. and Haddad C. 2013. Spiders of the Savanna Biome. University of Venda & Agricultural Research Council.
• Dippenaar-Schoeman, A. S. (1991). A revision of the African spider genus Seothyra Purcell (Araneae: Eresidae). Cimbebasia 12: 135–160.
• Dippenaar-Schoeman A. S. 2014. Field Guide of the Spiders of South Africa. Lapa Publisher 424 pp.
• Dippenaar-Schoeman A. S., Haddad C. R., Foord S. H., Lyle R., Lotz L. N., Helberg L., Mathebula S., Van Den Berg A., Van Den Berg A. M., Van Niekerk E. and Jocqué R. 2010. First Atlas of the Spiders of South Africa. South African National Survey of Arachnida. SANSA Technical Report version 1 (2010): 1158 pp.
• Foord S. H., Dippenaar-Schoeman A.S. and Haddad C.R. 2011. The faunistic diversity of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) of the Savanna Biome in South Africa. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa 66: 170–201.
• Purcell W. F. 1904. Descriptions of new genera and species of South African spiders. Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society 15: 115–173.