Xysticus natalensis

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Common Xysticus Ground Crab Spider
Xysticus natalensis 311187202 561730767.jpg
male
Xysticus natalensis 311187202 561730452.jpg
male
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Subphylum: Chelicerata
Class: Arachnida
Order: Araneae
Infraorder: Araneomorphae
Family: Thomisidae
Genus: Xysticus
Species:
X. natalensis
Binomial name
Xysticus natalensis
Lawrence, 1938 [1]

Xysticus natalensis is a species of spider in the family Thomisidae. [2] It occurs in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, and South Africa, and is commonly known as the common Xysticus ground crab spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Xysticus natalensis occurs across five southern African countries: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland (now Eswatini), and South Africa. In South Africa, the species is distributed across seven provinces, Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and North West. The species occurs at altitudes ranging from 27 to 2,331 m above sea level. [3]

Notable South African locations include Addo Elephant National Park, Erfenis Dam Nature Reserve, Amanzi Private Game Reserve, Ezemvelo Nature Reserve, Irene, Kliprivierberg Nature Reserve, Richards Bay, Umhlali, Ndumo Game Reserve, Ithala Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, Rust de Winter, Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Blouberg Nature Reserve, Marble Hall, Nelspruit, Brondal, Hartbeespoort Experimental Farm, and Magaliesberg. [3]

Habitat and ecology

Xysticus natalensis is a common species found under stones during the day. The species inhabits Fynbos, Grassland, and Savanna biomes. It has also been found in agricultural crops including avocado, macadamia, cotton, strawberries, and sugar cane. At Ndumo Game Reserve, the species has been found associated with the bark of Vachellia xanthophloea . [3]

Conservation

Xysticus natalensis is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in several protected areas including Addo National Park, Amanzi Private Game Reserve, Blouberg Nature Reserve, Luvhondo Nature Reserve, Ndumo Game Reserve, and Kruger National Park. No conservation actions are recommended. [3]

Description

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Lawrence in 1938 from Umhlali in KwaZulu-Natal. African species of Xysticus have not been revised, and the species is known from both sexes. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Lawrence, R.F. (1938). "A contribution to the knowledge of the fauna of South-West Africa. VII. Arachnida (Part 2)". Annals of the South African Museum. 32: 577–650.
  2. ↑ "Xysticus natalensis Lawrence, 1938". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-26.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide: Thomisidae (part 4). 1. p. 10. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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