Anyphops decoratus
| Zululand Anyphops Flat Spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Selenopidae |
| Genus: | Anyphops |
| Species: | A. decoratus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Anyphops decoratus (Lawrence, 1940)[1]
| |
Anyphops decoratus is a species of spider in the family Selenopidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as the Zululand anyphops flat spider.[3]
Distribution
[edit]Anyphops decoratus is found in South Africa.[2] The species occurs in four provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, at altitudes ranging from 29 to 1245 m above sea level.[3]
Habitat and ecology
[edit]The species inhabits Forest, Indian Ocean Coastal Belt, and Savanna biomes.[3] These are free-living cryptozoic nocturnal spiders.[3]
Description
[edit]The species is known from both sexes.[3] The carapace is brown, narrowly margined with black, decorated with spots and short bars of black, including a row of black spots along the lateral margin, and a large one on each side of the stria along the posterior margin. The chelicerae are brown, with their inner margins black and a black dot on the outer side near the base.[3]
The opisthosoma is mottled with black spots and bars, creating a dark brown overall effect. All legs have very clearly defined black blotches and bands. The posterior surfaces of femora are white, and metatarsi have 2 distinct black bands. Anterior tibiae have 7 pairs of inferior spines. Total length is 6-9 mm.[3]
Conservation
[edit]Anyphops decoratus is listed as Least Concern due to the wide geographical range.[3] There are no known threats to the species. It is protected in three reserves, Tembe Elephant Park, uMkhuze Game Reserve, and Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve.[3]
Taxonomy
[edit]The species was originally described by R. F. Lawrence in 1940 as Selenops decoratus from Ingwavuma.[1] It was transferred to the genus Anyphops by Benoit in 1968.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Lawrence, R.F. (1940). "The genus Selenops (Araneae) in South Africa". Annals of the South African Museum. 32: 604.
- ^ a b "Anyphops decoratus (Lawrence, 1940)". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 2025-09-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2020). The Selenopidae of South Africa. Version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 19. doi:10.5281/zenodo.7162139.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
