Ubacisi capensis is known from several locations across two provinces. In the Western Cape, it occurs in Table Mountain National Park, including Fernwood Gulley, Newlands Ravine, Skeleton Gorge, Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, and bat caves on Table Mountain. In the Eastern Cape, it has been recorded from Thyspunt and Addo Elephant National Park. The species occurs at elevations between 96 and 1029 metres above sea level.[3]
Habitat
The species has been collected from moist, wooded canyons and at the entrance of bat caves. It occurs in the Fynbos and Thicket biomes and builds sheet webs in shaded forest areas.[3]
Spiders in the genus Ubacisi are small, with body length less than 3 mm. The genus is distinguished by having an opisthosoma that is triangular when viewed laterally. The carapace is oval in dorsal view and evenly curved in profile with the posterior margin truncated. The legs are long with the leg formula 1243. The coxae are surrounded by soft cuticle with sclerotized points that do not meet. The opisthosoma lacks coarse setae and has a distinct pedicel.[3]
Etymology
The species epithet capensis refers to the Cape region of South Africa, where it was first discovered.[1]
Conservation
The species has a wide geographic range and is protected in multiple protected areas including Addo Elephant National Park and Table Mountain National Park. It is listed as being of Least Concern.[3]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described in the genus Isicabu but was transferred to the new genus Ubacisi by Griswold in 2001.[4]
References
1 2 Griswold, C.E. (1987). "A review of the southern African spiders of the family Cyatholipidae Simon, 1894 (Araneae: Araneomorphae)". Annals of the Natal Museum. 28: 499–542.
1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2022). The Cyatholipidae of South Africa. Version 2. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. Irene. pp.1–27. doi:10.5281/zenodo.6759933.
↑ Griswold, C.E. (2001). "A monograph of the living world genera and Afrotropical species of cyatholipid spiders (Araneae, Orbiculariae, Araneoidea, Cyatholipidae)". Memoirs of the California Academy of Sciences. 26: 1–251.
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