Zelotes qwabergensis

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Harrismith Dark Ground Spider
Zelotes qwabergensis 313763823 566646801.jpg
Female
Zelotes qwabergensis 313763823 566647096.jpg
Female
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. qwabergensis
Binomial name
Zelotes qwabergensis

Zelotes qwabergensis is a species of spider in the family Gnaphosidae. [2] It is commonly known as Harrismith dark ground spider and is endemic to South Africa. [3]

Contents

Distribution

Zelotes qwabergensis is known from two provinces in South Africa, Free State (Harrismith) and KwaZulu-Natal (Wakefield Farm). [3]

Habitat and ecology

The species inhabits the Grassland biome at an altitude of 1,713 m above sea level. Flat-bellied ground spiders are nocturnal hunters that make silk sacs under stones and surface debris where they live during the day, while moulting and during prolonged periods of inactivity. [3]

Description

Conservation

Zelotes qwabergensis is listed as Data Deficient for taxonomic reasons. More sampling is needed to collect the male and determine the species' range. There are no significant threats to the species. [3]

Taxonomy

The species was described by FitzPatrick in 2007. It is known only from the female. [3]

References

  1. FitzPatrick, M.J. (2007). "A taxonomic revision of the Afrotropical species of Zelotes (Arachnida: Araneae: Gnaphosidae)". Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society. 14 (3): 97–172. doi:10.13156/arac.2011.14.3.97.
  2. "Zelotes qwabergensis FitzPatrick, 2007". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 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. 41. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7197783. Creative Commons by small.svg  This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.