Xerophaeus tenebrosus

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Xerophaeus tenebrosus
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. tenebrosus
Binomial name
Xerophaeus tenebrosus
Tucker, 1923 [1]

Xerophaeus tenebrosus is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Xerophaeus tenebrosus is recorded from three South African provinces, KwaZulu-Natal, the Northern Cape, and Western Cape. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits multiple biomes including Forest, Savanna, and Nama Karoo biomes at altitudes ranging from 83 to 1078 m above sea level. Xerophaeus tenebrosus are free-living ground dwellers. [3]

Description

Xerophaeus tenebrosus is known only from females. [3]

Conservation

Xerophaeus tenebrosus is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is suspected to be under sampled. It is protected in Mkuze Nature Reserve and Namaqua National Park 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 tenebrosus Tucker, 1923". 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. 61. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.