Xerophaeus biplagiatus

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East African 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. biplagiatus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus biplagiatus
Tullgren, 1910 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus biplagiatus is recorded from East Africa and South Africa. In South Africa, it is known only from Gauteng. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Grassland and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 1303 to 1444 m above sea level. Xerophaeus biplagiatus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xerophaeus biplagiatus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide range in Africa. There are no significant threats to the species, though more sampling is needed to collect males. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Tullgren in 1910 from East Africa. The species has not been revised and is known only from the female. [3]

References

  1. Tullgren, A. (1910). "Araneae. In: Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Zoologischen Expedition nach dem Kilimandjaro, dem Meru und den umgebenden Massaisteppen Deutsch-Ostafrikas 1905-1906 unter Leitung von Prof. Dr. Yngve Sjöstedt". Sjöstedts Kilimandjaro-Meru Expedition. 20 (6): 85–172. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.6622.
  2. "Xerophaeus biplagiatus Tullgren, 1910". 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. 38. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.