Xerophaeus maritimus

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Zululand 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. maritimus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus maritimus
Lawrence, 1938 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus maritimus is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 42 to 405 m above sea level. Xerophaeus maritimus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xerophaeus maritimus is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The species is protected in Ophathe Game Reserve and uMkhuze Game Reserve. More sampling is needed to collect males and to more accurately determine the species' range. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by R. F. Lawrence in 1938 from Umhlali, KwaZulu-Natal. The species has not been revised and is known only from the female. [3]

References

  1. Lawrence, R.F. (1938). "A collection of spiders from Natal and Zululand". Annals of the Natal Museum. 8: 455–524.
  2. "Xerophaeus maritimus Lawrence, 1938". 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. 51. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.