Xerophaeus pallidus

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Kranskop 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. pallidus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus pallidus
Tucker, 1923 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

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

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits Forest and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 140 to 1220 m above sea level. Xerophaeus pallidus are free-living ground dwellers and have been sampled in pine plantations at Ngome. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xerophaeus pallidus is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. The species is protected in Ngome State Forest and Ndumo Game Reserve. More sampling is needed to collect females and to more accurately determine the species' range. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Krantz Kop. The species has not been revised and is known only from the male. [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 pallidus 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. 53. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.