Zelotes caldarius

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Montagu Dark 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: Zelotes
Species:
Z. caldarius
Binomial name
Zelotes caldarius
(Purcell, 1907) [1]
Synonyms
  • Melanophora caldariaPurcell, 1907

Zelotes caldarius is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. [2] It is commonly known as the Montagu dark ground spider. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Zelotes caldarius is distributed across Botswana and South Africa. [2] In South Africa, it is known from Limpopo and Western Cape, at altitudes ranging from 63 to 1,523 m above sea level. [3]

Notable locations include the type locality of Montagu in the Western Cape, Kruger National Park, and Bontebok National Park. [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Savanna, Fynbos, and Nama Karoo biomes. These are free-running spiders that are found under stones during the day. [3]

Conservation

Zelotes caldarius is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographic range. There are no significant threats to the species. It is protected in multiple reserves including Blouberg Nature Reserve, Kruger National Park, Lhuvhondo Nature Reserve, and Bontebok National Park. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was originally described by Purcell in 1907 from Montagu in the Western Cape as Melanophora caldaria. It was revised by FitzPatrick in 2007. The species is known from both sexes. [3]

References

  1. ↑ Purcell, W.F. (1907). "New South African spiders of the family Drassidae in the collection of the South African Museum". Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 7. 20 (118): 297–336, pl. 13-15. doi:10.1080/00222930709487339.
  2. 1 2 "Zelotes caldarius (Purcell, 1907)". World Spider Catalog. doi:10.24436/2 . Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  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 4 (Z). Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 9. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197783. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
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