Xerophaeus bicavus

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Acornhoek 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. bicavus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus bicavus
Tucker, 1923 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus bicavus is recorded from eight South African provinces: Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Forest, Grassland, Nama Karoo, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 0 to 1922 m above sea level. Xerophaeus bicavus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xerophaeus bicavus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide distribution. The species is protected in eight protected areas and there are no significant threats. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Acornhoek, Limpopo. It has not been revised but is known from both sexes. [3]

References

  1. Tucker, R.W.E. (1923). "The Drassidae of South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 19 (2): 251–437.
  2. "Xerophaeus bicavus Tucker, 1923". World Spider Catalog.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 37. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.