Ballomma haddadi
| Haddad's Ballomma Zodariid spider | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Chelicerata |
| Class: | Arachnida |
| Order: | Araneae |
| Infraorder: | Araneomorphae |
| Family: | Zodariidae |
| Genus: | Ballomma |
| Species: | B. haddadi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Ballomma haddadi Jocqué & Henrard, 2015[1]
| |
Ballomma haddadi is a species of spider in the family Zodariidae.[2] It is endemic to South Africa and is commonly known as Haddad's Ballomma Zodariid spider.[3]
Etymology
[edit]The species is named after Charles R. Haddad, a prominent South African arachnologist.[citation needed]
Distribution
[edit]Ballomma haddadi occurs in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. It has been recorded from Woodbush Forest near Polokwane, Kaingo Game Reserve in the Waterberg, and Ohrigstad.[3]
Habitat
[edit]The species inhabits the Savanna biome at altitudes ranging from 860 to 1,080 metres above sea level. It occurs in forest environments where it has been sampled by sifting litter.[3]
Description
[edit]Ballomma haddadi is known from both sexes. Males are easily recognized by their distinctive pedipalp with a long, thin, sinuous embolus that has a large, sharp process at its base. The cephalothorax is medium brown, and the abdomen is grey with a complex pale pattern. Females have a characteristic epigyne with a dark central area and well-separated spermathecae.[3]
Ecology
[edit]Ballomma haddadi are free-living ground-dwellers that inhabit the leaf litter of forest environments. They are collected through litter sifting methods.[3]
Conservation
[edit]The species is listed as data deficient due to its obscure status. More sampling is needed to determine the full extent of its distribution range.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Jocqué, R.; Henrard, A. (2015). "Ballomma, a new Afrotropical genus in the Cryptothelinae (Araneae, Zodariidae): eyes on the run". European Journal of Taxonomy. 163: 1–24. doi:10.5852/ejt.2015.163.
- ^ "Ballomma haddadi Jocqué & Henrard, 2015". World Spider Catalog. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f Dippenaar-Schoeman, A.S.; Jocqué, R.; Haddad, C.R.; Foord, S.H.; Lotz, L.N. (2024). The Zodariidae of South Africa. Part 1 (A-D) version 1. South African National Survey of Arachnida Photo Identification Guide. p. 14. doi:10.5281/zenodo.14404920. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
This article incorporates text available under the CC BY 4.0 license.
