Xerophaeus rubeus

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Knysna 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. rubeus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus rubeus
Tucker, 1923 [1]

Xerophaeus rubeus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. [2] It occurs in southern Africa and is commonly known as the Knysna mouse ground spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus rubeus is recorded from Lesotho and South Africa. In South Africa, it is known from KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Fynbos, Grassland, and Savanna biomes at altitudes ranging from 45 to 2584 m above sea level. Xerophaeus rubeus are free-living ground dwellers and from the Sani Pass the species is abundant and has been sampled from 2100-2700 m above sea level. [3]

Description

Conservation

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

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Tucker in 1923 from Knysna. 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 rubeus 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. 57. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.