Xerophaeus flavescens

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Clanwilliam 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. flavescens
Binomial name
Xerophaeus flavescens
Purcell, 1907 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus flavescens is endemic to the Western Cape and is known only from the type locality Clanwilliam. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Fynbos biome at an altitude of 136 m above sea level. Xerophaeus flavescens are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Xerophaeus flavescens is known only from males. The colour is pale yellow, with the chelicerae and anterior part of the carapace reddish yellow. The opisthosoma is pallid, with dark hairs and yellow scutellum. [3]

Conservation

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

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Clanwilliam. The species has not been revised and is known only from the male. [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 flavescens 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. 46. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.