Xerophaeus lightfooti

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Pale Leg 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. lightfooti
Binomial name
Xerophaeus lightfooti
Purcell, 1907 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus lightfooti is recorded from two South African provinces: the Northern Cape and Western Cape. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Fynbos, Grassland, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 47 to 1172 m above sea level. Xerophaeus lightfooti are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Conservation

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

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by W. F. Purcell in 1907 from Worcester. 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 lightfooti Purcell, 1907". 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. 48. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.