Xevioso lichmadina

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Haenertsburg Xevioso Hackled Band Spider
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. lichmadina
Binomial name
Xevioso lichmadina
Griswold, 1990 [1]

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

Contents

Distribution

Xevioso lichmadina is endemic to Limpopo, where it occurs at several localities at altitudes ranging from 657 to 1,399 m above sea level. Locations include Haenertsburg, Swartbos Forest, Trichardtsdal, Wolkberg Nature Reserve, Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve (including Farm The Downs, Balloon Forest, and Farm Malta), and Vhembe Biosphere Vhuvha. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Xevioso lichmadina inhabits the Savanna biome. These ground retreat-web cryptic spiders live in dark places. A male was sampled from beneath leaves in forest litter in riverine forest. [3]

Description

Conservation

Xevioso lichmadina is listed as Vulnerable by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. In several locations, the species is experiencing ongoing loss of habitat, which qualifies it for Vulnerable status. There is ongoing transformation of its habitat outside protected areas to agroforestry plantations, crop cultivation, and urban development. The species is protected in Legalameetse Nature Reserve and Wolkberg Nature Reserve, but more sampling is needed. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was described by Griswold in 1990 from Haenertsburg and is known from both sexes. [1] [3]

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 lichmadina 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. 42. 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.