Xerophaeus aurariarum

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Johannesburg 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. aurariarum
Binomial name
Xerophaeus aurariarum
Purcell, 1907 [1]

Xerophaeus aurariarum is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. [2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Johannesburg mouse ground spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus aurariarum is recorded from Namibia and South Africa. In South Africa, it has a wide distribution throughout the country including Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Fynbos, Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 4 to 2329 m above sea level. Xerophaeus aurariarum are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Xerophaeus aurariarum is known from both sexes. The carapace is dark testaceous clothed with appressed hair. The opisthosoma is very slightly darker, also clothed with dark hair; anterior dorsal scutum shows as a small brown patch in males. Legs are dark testaceous clothed with appressed hair. Total size is 5-6 mm in females and 3-4 mm in males. [3]

Conservation

Xerophaeus aurariarum is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range. The species is protected in ten protected areas and there are no known threats. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from the Witwatersrand in Gauteng, South Africa. 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 aurariarum 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. 36. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.