Xerophaeus appendiculatus

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Common 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. appendiculatus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus appendiculatus
Purcell, 1907 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus appendiculatus is recorded from seven South African provinces, Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Northern Cape, and Western Cape. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 54 to 1998 m above sea level. Xerophaeus appendiculatus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Xerophaeus appendiculatus is known from both sexes. The colour of the carapace is light testaceous yellow, with the legs slightly paler. The chelicerae are blackish red and the opisthosoma is clothed with brown hairs. The total sizeis 12 mm for females and 9 mm for males. [3]

Conservation

Xerophaeus appendiculatus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. The species is protected in nine protected areas and there are no significant threats. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Hanover in the Northern Cape. The species has not been revised but is known from both sexes. [3]

References

  1. Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 20 (118): 297–336. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
  2. "Xerophaeus appendiculatus Purcell, 1907". World Spider Catalog.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 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. 34. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.