Xevioso amica

Last updated

Natal Xevioso Hackled Band Spider
Xevioso amica 127203212.jpg
male
Xevioso amica 127203195.jpg
male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Phyxelididae
Genus: Xevioso
Species:
X. amica
Binomial name
Xevioso amica
Griswold, 1990 [1]

Xevioso amica is a species of spider in the family Phyxelididae. [2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Natal Xevioso hackled band spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Xevioso amica is endemic to KwaZulu-Natal, where it has a widespread distribution across various localities including eight protected areas. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 3 to 1,154 m above sea level. [3]

Notable locations include the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (Cape Vidal, Hellsgate, Fanie's Gate, Lake St. Lucia at Charters Creek, and False Bay), Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Ithala Game Reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve, Ngome State Forest, and Ophathe Game Reserve. Other locations include Empangeni, Enseleni Nature Reserve, Louwsburg, Richards Bay, and Vryheid. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Xevioso amica inhabits the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt and Savanna biomes. These ground retreat-web cryptic spiders live in damp and dark places and are among the most common cribellate spiders found in coastal dune forests and swamp forests in Zululand. They are typically collected beneath rocks, logs, and tree bark. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xevioso amica is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in several protected areas including iSimangaliso Wetland Park, Hluhluwe Nature Reserve, Ithala Nature Reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve, Ngome State Forest, and Ophathe Game Reserve. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was described by Griswold in 1990 from Lake St. Lucia in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. [1]

References

  1. 1 2 Griswold, C.E. (1990). "A revision and phylogenetic analysis of the spider subfamily Phyxelidinae (Araneae, Amaurobiidae)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 196: 1–206.
  2. "Xevioso amica Griswold, 1990". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2021). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide: The Phyxelididae of South Africa 2021 version 1. p. 38. doi:10.5281/zenodo.5176739 . Retrieved 24 September 2025. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.