| Uroplectes ansiedippenaarae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Scorpiones |
| Family: | Buthidae |
| Genus: | Uroplectes |
| Species: | U. ansiedippenaarae |
| Binomial name | |
| Uroplectes ansiedippenaarae Prendini, 2015 | |
Uroplectes ansidippenaarae is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae, endemic to South Africa. [1] It is the smallest member of the genus Uroplectes. [2]
Uroplectes ansidippenaarae was described in 2015 by Lorenzo Prendini based on individuals collected from seven different locations in southwestern South Africa via hand-collection and pitfall trapping. Morphologically it appears most similar to Uroplectes variegatus. The specific name ansidippenaarae honors Dr. Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman of the Agricultural Research Council, Plant Protection Research Institute, South Africa. [2]
Uroplectes ansiedippenaarae is the smallest known member of Uroplectes, with adults ranging at 16–20 mm in length. [2]
It exhibits a primary coloration ranging from pale yellowish to reddish orange. Although generally unadorned, the body does possess some regions of darker pigmentation. The pincers' fingers are notably dark, while the outer sides of the mouthparts typically also exhibit dark areas. Dark stripes run down the center of the scorpion's carapace as well as along both its sides. The fifth section of the tail appears entirely dark, forming a distinctive contrast with the lighter coloration of the stinger. [2]
Uroplectes ansiedippenaarae is endemic to South Africa, where it is known from only eight localities spanning the southwestern Northern Cape and the northern Western Cape provinces. Its distribution falls within the Succulent Karoo ecoregion. [2]
The known localities of the scorpion span four different vegetation types that fall under the Succulent Karoo biome: Central Knersvlakte Vygieveld, Northern Knersvlakte Vygieveld, Hantam Karoo, and Tanqua Escarpment Shrubland. Individuals were often collected in rocky areas of terrain, indicating that the species is lapidicolous (adapted to live in rocky environments). [2]
The Richtersveld is a desert landscape characterised by rugged kloofs and high mountains, situated in the north-western corner of South Africa’s Northern Cape province. It is full of changing scenery from flat, sandy, coastal plains, to craggy sharp mountains of volcanic rock and the lushness of the Orange River, which forms the border with neighboring Namibia. The area ranges in altitude from sea level, to 1,377 m (4,518 ft) at Cornellberg. Located in the north-western side of the Northern Cape province in South Africa, the Richtersveld is regarded as the only arid biodiversity hotspot on earth and the majority of the area is inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List due to its cultural values.
The Succulent Karoo is an ecoregion defined by the World Wide Fund for Nature to include regions of desert in South Africa and Namibia, and a biodiversity hotspot. The geographic area chosen by the WWF for what they call 'Succulent Karoo' does not correspond to the actual Karoo.
The Karoo scrub robin or Karoo robin is a species of bird in the family Muscicapidae. It is found in Lesotho, Namibia, and South Africa. Its natural habitats are dry shrubland and Mediterranean-type shrubby vegetation.
The Buthidae are the largest family of scorpions, containing about 100 genera and 1339 species as of 2022. A few very large genera are known, but a high number of species-poor or monotypic ones also exist. New taxa are being described at a rate of several new species per year. They have a cosmopolitan distribution throughout tropical and subtropical environments worldwide. Together with four other families, the Buthidae make up the superfamily Buthoidea. The family was established by Carl Ludwig Koch in 1837.
Namaqua National Park is a South African national park situated approximately 495 km north of Cape Town and 22 km northwest of Kamieskroon. It has an area of more than 1300 km2. The park is part of Namaqualand, an area covering 55,000 km2 located within the semi-desert Succulent Karoo biome. This biome is a biodiversity hotspot with the largest concentration of succulent plants in the world. The park also has an arid environment with succulent plants. The park was created to protect its flowers. During the spring, wildflowers bloom there in a spectacular fashion. The park's main tourist attraction is this abundant spring bloom of brightly coloured wildflowers.
The Knersvlakte is a region of hilly terrain covered with quartz gravel in Namaqualand in the north-west corner of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. The name, literally "gnashing plain" in Afrikaans, is thought to be derived from the crunching of wagonwheels as they moved over the hard quartz stones.
Androctonus maroccanus is a species of scorpion of the family Buthidae. Along with other members of the genus Androctonus it is also known by the collective vernacular name fat-tailed scorpion. A. maroccanus is endemic to the Atlantic coast of central Morocco.
Homopus femoralis, commonly known as the greater padloper, is a small tortoise of the genus Homopus, indigenous to the highveld grasslands of South Africa.
Chersobius boulengeri, commonly known as the Karoo padloper or Boulenger's cape tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is endemic to the Nama Karoo Region of South Africa.
Uroplectes is a genus of scorpions in the family Buthidae. They are known commonly as the lesser thick-tailed scorpions. There are about 40 species distributed in the Afrotropical realm. They are most diverse in South Africa.
Robertson Karoo is a semi-arid vegetation type, restricted to sections of the Breede River Valley, Western Cape Province, South Africa. It is a subtype of Succulent Karoo and is characterised by the dominance of succulent plant species, and by several endemic plants and animals.
Hadogenes soutpansbergensis is a scorpion species endemic to South Africa in the bicolor group of the genus Hadogenes. It is named after the Soutpansberg mountain range where it was found.
The Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve is located in the Western Cape of South Africa. It is the 7th and largest of South Africa’s biosphere reserves; divided into four connected sectors ranging from sea level to 2,240 metres. The area is the only place in the world where three recognised biodiversity hotspots converge. The site is characterised by high endemism of plant species and threatened invertebrates including seven endemic species of the enigmatic beetle genus Colophon and 14 butterfly species. It provides a migratory route for large mammals such as the leopard and serves as a nursery for marine species.
The Pneumoridae are a family of nocturnal short-horned grasshoppers in the order Orthoptera, commonly known as the bladder grasshoppers and the sole representative of the superfamily Pneumoroidea. Their centre of diversity is in southern Africa, but one species occurs as far north as South Sudan. Most adult males acquire an inflated abdomen, a specialization for amplified sound production, which is likely its primary function. Most genera display striking sexual dimorphism, and several species exhibit a dual male phenotype.
Neobuthus erigavoensis is a species of scorpion from the family Buthidae found in Somaliland.
Cephalophyllum purpureo-album is a plant species in the family Aizoaceae, endemic to the Western Cape Province, South Africa.
Afrolychas braueri, commonly known as the Seychelles forest scorpion, is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae. It is currently thought to survive only on Silhouette Island, Seychelles, although the species was historically found on two additional Seychellois islands. This scorpion lives in leaf litter in forests that are largely unaffected by invasive plant species. It is a small yellowish-brown scorpion with three prominent keels on the dorsal surface of its mesosoma, which distinguishes it from other scorpions. While not much is known about the Seychelles forest scorpion's ecology due to the paucity of sightings, it is known to rely solely on its venom to capture its prey and defend its young. Its venom is not dangerous to humans.
Lachenalia carnosa is a species of geophyte in the genus Lachenalia. It is endemic to the Northern Cape and Western Cape. It is also known by the names Namakwa- persviooltjie and flesh viooltjie.
Uroplectes otjimbinguensis is a species of scorpion in the family Buthidae, endemic to Angola and Namibia.
Pseudolychas is a genus of scorpion in the family Buthidae. Species of the genus are known as the pygmy-thicktail scorpions and are found in South Africa, Eswatini and Mozambique. Their venom is mild and not medically important.