Xerophaeus ahenus

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Steinkopf Mouse Ground Spider
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Gnaphosidae
Genus: Xerophaeus
Species:
X. ahenus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus ahenus
Purcell, 1908 [1]

Xerophaeus ahenus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Steinkopf mouse ground spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus ahenus is known from two South African provinces: the Northern Cape and Western Cape. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Fynbos and Succulent Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 109 to 991 m above sea level. [3]

Xerophaeus ahenus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Xerophaeus ahenus is known only from females. The cephalothorax is coppery-red in colour, with testaceous legs and a pale fulvous-yellow opisthosoma. The chelicerae and sternum are red. The total size is 10.5 mm. [3]

Conservation

Xerophaeus ahenus 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, though more sampling is needed to collect the male. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1908 from Steinkopf in the Northern Cape. The species has not been revised and remains known only from the female. [3]

References

  1. Purcell, W.F. (1908). "Araneae (I). In: Schultze, L. (ed.): Zoologische und anthropologische Ergebnisse einer Forschungsreise im westlichen und zentralen Südafrika. Erster Band: Systematik und Tiergeographie. Zweite Lieferung". Denkschriften der Medizinisch-Naturwissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft zu Jena. 13: 203–246. doi:10.5962/bhl.part.25299.
  2. "Xerophaeus ahenus Purcell, 1908". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). The Gnaphosidae of South Africa. Part 3 (T-X). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 32. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197741. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.