Xerophaeus flammeus

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Maitland 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. flammeus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus flammeus
Tucker, 1923 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus flammeus is endemic to the Western Cape and is known only from the type locality Maitland Flats. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Fynbos biome at an altitude of 12 m above sea level. Xerophaeus flammeus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xerophaeus flammeus is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The material is very old and too little is known about the location, range and threats of this taxon for an assessment to be made. More sampling is needed to collect males and determine the species' range. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Maitland Flats. The species has not been revised and is known only from the female. [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 flammeus 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. 45. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.